ISL: NorthEast United beat East Bengal 4-0 for first league win in Shillong

NorthEast United FC defeated East Bengal FC 40 for their first win of the league at Shillong in the Indian Super League ISL 202425 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on SaturdayThe Highlanders thus bagged their 10th win of the league season wrapping up their 24 games and earning 38 points before embarking on their playoff journey This was the eighth match in which NorthEast United FC scored three or more goals this season and also got their firstever ISL win in ShillongEast Bengal FC had limited chances coming their way in the first half but Cleiton Silva did give NorthEast United FC a moment of scare through a probing freekick in the 22nd minute With the team earning a chance at a promising spot on the left flank Silva swerved in a telling delivery that resulted in the ball landing over the crossbarNorthEast United FC retaliated by moving gradually up the left wing through Alaaeddine Ajaraie who lobbed in a cross for Nestor Albiach in the 32nd minute Nestor made a robust effort at hitting the target with an aerial effort but the shot was kept off limits by East Bengal FC goalkeeper Debjit MajumderAjaraie backheeled a pass for the onrushing Tondonba Singh on the left flank followed by the latter drilling in a cross for Nestor at the centre of the 18yard box Nestor met the lateral ball with thorough finesse and slotted it into the bottom right corner with his left foot to break the deadlock in the 59th minuteThe Highlanders rode on this brief wave in their favour as Nestor played a key role in shaping up a dynamic offensive sequence from a corner kick Guillermo Fernandez curled in a rightfooted inward curling cross for Macarton Nickson that was hammered on target Debjit made a quick first save before Ajaraie lapped upon the rebound and nestled it into the bottom left corner amid a crowded box to double the lead in the 66th minuteAjaraie took over a dazzling role thereafter with East Bengal FC conceding him plenty of space to work his footwork around in the defensive third The freeflowing forward looked to breach into the oppositionrsquos box from the left side and sprinted near the sixyard boxTanmay Das fouled Ajaraie and the striker stepped up to take over the spotkick duties using his right foot to dispatch the ball into the bottom right corner in the 79th minute Das was sent off after another foul in the 84th minute handing the Highlanders a numerical advantage in the final phase of the encounterNorthEast United FC did not relent on offensive pressure and kept pushing forward thereby earning setpiece chances including corner kicks to further peg East Bengal FC back in the gameOne such corner kick in the 86th minute resulted in the Highlanders grappling to discover another goal before Mohammed Ali Bemammer pounced upon a loose ball and settled it into the bottom right corner to find his teamrsquos fourth goal of the night propelling them to finish their league stage on a positive noteThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever