NorthEast United FC players during a practice session.
- DIMAPUR — In
their Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 match against Hyderabad FC on Monday at
the Gachibowli Stadium, NorthEast United FC will aim to resume their winning
ways.
- An update from the club said that the Highlanders are
determined to set the records straight after unfavourable results despite a
valiant effort in their last two games.
- Juan Pedro Benali’s men are 8th in the table with 15 points,
and a victory on the road could earn them a spot in the top six. Hyderabad are
12th in the standings with 7 points from 11 games.
- “We’ve been preparing well for a while… For us, it’s
important (to win). Every game is important; we don’t look at who we are
playing against. When we play, we need to win; we need the points. At this
moment, it’s important to be not far from the top,” Juan Pedro Benali said.
- The Highlanders may not have found the back of the net in
their last two fixtures, but a fast start has been the hallmark of Benali’s
side, having netted 8 times in the opening 15 minutes of the match.
- The club’s Moroccan striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie has been in
red-hot form and leads the race for the Golden Boot with 11 goals from as many
matches. Should Ajaraie score against Hyderabad FC, he would match the record
of Bartholomew Ogbeche’s record of the most goals in a single ISL season for
NorthEast United FC.
- However, the Highlanders boast the likes of Jithin MS,
Parthib Gogoi, Thoi Singh, Ankith P, Nestor Albiach, and Guillermo Fernandez in
the ranks, who, along with Ajaraie, have contributed to the 21 goals that the
team has scored so far.
- NorthEast United FC’s custodian, Gurmeet Singh, 25, has been
in sensational form this season and has pulled off some stunning saves. The
Haryana lad would be keen to put on another show against his former side. In
front of Gurmeet, the NEUFC back line
has been solid with the likes of Asheer Akhtar, Dinesh Singh, and Buanthanglun
Samte putting in solid performances.
