Agencies
GUWAHATI, DECEMBER 10
NORTHEAST United FC and Mumbai City FC played out a 1-1 draw at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati in a round 14 Indian Super League (ISL) tie on Wednesday evening.
Koke put the home side ahead in the first half as he successfully converted his penalty while Sushil Singh equalized late in the second session to ensure that the two teams win a point each.At the end of the two team’s ISL campaign, NorthEast United finished at the bottom of the table with 15 points. On the other hand, Mumbai City had amassed a point more and ended up on the seventh position.
The home side had the first chance in the second minute when Koke’s free-kick was flicked on for Joan Capdevila at the far post whose header went over the bar. However, the linesman had raised the flag for offside.
After the half hour mark, Koke drew Manuel Friedrich into a foul inside the box as he went tumbling down. His appeals for a penalty fell on the deaf ears of the referee.
On the 33rd minute, Josl burst into the box down the left and Deepak Mondal’s challenge brought the Czech player down and the referee rightly pointed to the spot. Koke stepped up and converted the penalty with ease to put his side into the lead.
NorthEast should have doubled the lead three minutes later as Koke slid in a through ball for Durga Boro who shot it wide of the near post. Interestingly, the referee awarded a corner-kick for the home side which incensed the Mumbai players.
At half-time Ricki Herbert’s side lead 1-0 with Mumbai struggling to create chances.
Josl should have done better as he dragged his shot wide from inside the box after Koke did well to initiate the move in the 56th minute.
The very next minute saw Massamba Sambou miss a great chance as his header at the far post was saved by substitute goalkeeper Andre Pereira.
Mumbai were denied by the woodwork as Ralte unleashed a piledriver from distance but his left footed shot kissed the top of the bar.
The equalizer came in the 84th minute as Sushil’s header from a Stohanzl cross took a deflection off Mtonga on its way in.
Five minutes later, Ralte’s shot is deflected and it dropped kindly for Nadong Bhutia who had the option to shoot or square it for a couple of team-mates. However, his inexperience was there for all to see as the home side did enough to clear the danger.
Massamba was wasteful once again in the 90th minute as headed wide after being set up with a delightful cross by Isaac Chansa.
Bhutia did well to cut in and shoot from inside the box but Aiborlang Khongjee flung himself in the way of the effort and denied the Mumbai striker.
However, the best chance of the game came in the stoppage time. Miguel Garcia and Massamba were in a two on one situation with the Mumbai custodian. The Portuguese rolled the ball for the Senegalese to tap in but he could only stab it straight at the goalkeeper, much to the disappointment of the assembled crowd in what was the piece of notable action in the match.
FIKRU Teferra struck an equaliser off a dubious penalty decision to force a 1-1 draw for Atletico de Kolkata against a 10-man FC Goa and sneak into the semifinals of the Hero Indian Super League football tournament on Wednesday.
The Kolkata franchise will clash against the same Goan opponents in the home leg of the semis on Sunday before their away leg on December 17.
Leaders Chennaiyin FC will face fourth-placed Kerala Blasters FC in the first leg semis in Kochi on Saturday.
Needing at least a draw to make the cut, ATK trailed 0-1 at half-time after Edgar Marcelino’s stunning 27th-minute goal in front of a cheering 37,238 attendance at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan.
With nothing going their way, it was the US referee Baldomero Toledo who came to the rescue of the listless ATK as he awarded them a penalty after Fikru went down inside the box in the 66th minute.
The moment came a minute after Fikru’s shot hit the post as ATK kept ruing their missed chances.
TV replays showed that there was no contact from Bruno Pinheiro from behind but the referee thought otherwise and to their opponents’ utter shock, sent off the FCG central defender.
Having lamented the poor referring all the way, ATK utilised this goof-up to perfection as Fikru coolly brought the equaliser that ensured their passage to the semis.
The home franchise showed little unity and Fikru was seen shoving their midfielder Jakub Podany after a misspass in the 80th minute.
With the numerical disadvantage, the Goans on the other hand, held on as they finished second with 22 points, while ATK (10) finished third ahead of Kerala Blasters FC on goal difference.
