NorthEast United FC concluded their Indian Super League campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over Odisha FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Saturday. Despite failing to qualify for the playoffs, the Highlanders put on a strong performance against the Juggernauts, who suffered their third loss in their last five games.
Sergio Lobera’s team finished the league season with 39 points and will now compete in the playoffs for a place in the semi-finals. The Highlanders, who finished last in the 2022-23 season, ended this campaign in seventh place with 26 points from 22 matches.
The Highlanders’ clinical performance was highlighted by young attacker Parthib Gogoi, who opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a tap-in from a low cross. Gogoi, who had started the season by scoring in each of their first three league games, ended the campaign with a goal to his name, albeit in a different style.
Four minutes later, the home team doubled their lead through Spanish talisman Nestor Albiach. Parthib, lively in the final third, laid the ball up for Nestor, who carried the ball into the Odisha FC box with effortless ease and put it past Lalthuammawia Ralte to round off one of the most captivating solo efforts of the season.
The Juggernauts had a chance to pull a goal back soon afterwards when Odisha FC attacker Pranjil Bhumij drew a foul inside the 18-yard box in the 24th minute. However, Roy Krishna’s shot from the spot was saved in the bottom left corner by NorthEast United FC goalkeeper Mirshad Michu.
This was the first time that Krishna missed a penalty in his ISL career, having converted each of his previous 10 efforts. The Highlanders made them pay for this slip-up, with Phalguni Singh getting his name on the scoresheet in the added time of the first half.
Gogoi’s cross inside the center of the box was lapped upon and netted in by Phalguni for his team’s third goal of the night, effectively handing them a formidable lead in the proceedings.
