NorthEast United stun Delhi to register first win of season

Marcinho, Danilo strikes propel NorthEast to their first victory.

NorthEast United FC came up with a clinical 2-0 away win against Delhi Dynamos FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on Saturday. Marcinho opened the scoring for the visitors, and Danilo Lopes made the most of an Albino Gomes lapse to score the second, as the Highlanders climbed to the top half of the table.

The game was free-flowing to begin with, as both teams took turns to launch attacks. NorthEast, in particular, tried their luck a few times from distance. The visitors began to see more of the ball, and scored their first goal of the season in the 17th minute. Halicharan Narzary dribbled his way down the left flank and delivered a beautiful cross to Marcinho, who used a scissor-kick to score.

The goal only spurred on the Highlanders, and they doubled their advantage five minutes later, courtesy of an error from Delhi custodian Gomes. The 23-year-old failed to deal with Pratik Chowdhary’s simple back pass, and it allowed Danilo to pounce and slot into an empty net. That was also a milestone goal, being the 500th in the league’s history.

That goal seemed to awaken the Lions as they started initiating attacks of their own. They had a glorious chance to cut NorthEast’s lead to half in the 33rd minute, when Jeroen Lumu took a cross down, turned his marker and unleashed a shot. Highlanders goalkeeper TP Rehenesh though was equal to it, coming up with a splendid save.

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Nine minutes later, Delhi managed to fashion another chance, this time from a corner. The ball went all the way through a melee to Kalu Uche, who slid in, but Rehenesh came up with a point-blank save. That proved to be the last meaningful chance of the half as the Highlanders held their heads high with a 2-0 lead at the break.

The hosts started the second half the same way they ended the first. Substitute David Ngaihte forced Rehenesh into a save after the former went through on goal. Another substitute, Lallianzuala Chhangte, was particularly dangerous as he started operating attacks to good effect from the flanks.

Their touches in the final third, however, let them down, as the Highlanders managed to soak up all the pressure. It ensured Delhi did not have any further chances throughout the remainder of the half as NorthEast picked up their first win of the season.

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MATCH AWARDS

Club Award: NorthEast United FCSwift Moment of the Match: MarcinhoDHL Winning Pass of the Match: Halicharan NarzaryAmul Fittest Player: Danilo LopesEmerging Player: Lallianzuala ChhangteHero of the Match: Halicharan Narzary