Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: NorthEast United FC secured a 4-1 win over Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC at Guwahati's Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Saturday. The result kept the defending champions unbeaten in 14 Durand Cup matches. They now hold two wins from two games.
Head coach Juan Pedro Benali deployed an aggressive 4-2-4 formation. The Highlanders dominated early. Junior Onguene Nkengue fouled Alaaeddine Ajaraie in the box during the seventh minute. Ajaraie converted the spot-kick, sliding it past goalkeeper Jaspreet Singh to take the lead.
Karbi Anglong leveled the score in the 28th minute. A bad pass from defender Soraisham Dinesh Singh gifted the ball to Nkengue, who struck from close range. The tie did not last long.
Benali subbed in Parthib Gogoi and Macarton Louis Nickson at half-time. The move worked. Three minutes after the break, Gogoi set up Ajaraie for his fifth goal of the tournament. The Moroccan forward tucked home a left-footed strike to put the Highlanders back in front.
The pressure continued as Karbi Anglong struggled to contain the attack. Buanthanglun Samte sent a cross into the box in the 83rd minute. Macarton rose to head the ball home, pushing the score to 3-1. Deep in stoppage time, Abdul Rabeeh sprinted down the left wing to set up the final score. Spanish forward Etyan Gonzalez Morales tapped in the cross. "The goal marked a memorable debut in Indian football for the Spanish forward and completed NorthEast United's 4-1 victory."
Karbi Anglong Morning Star fought hard, but the reigning champions proved too much. NorthEast United looks toward their next Group F match.
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