NorthEast United F.C. ensured the Highlanders went into the weekend with smiling faces as they displayed some injury time heroics to beat Kerala Blasters 2-1 to register their first home win of the season.
United dominated most minutes of the game and created a good few chances early on but could not capitalize those opportunities. Both the teams went into the interval with the scoreline reading 0-0.
In the second half, David James' side pulled the trigger and opened the scoresheet after Zakeer's corner kick was headed in by Poplatnik in the 67th minute. NorthEast fans had given up hopes after the game entered injury time with Kerala leading 0-1.
In the 90+3 minute, a Sandesh Jhingan challenge on Juan Cruz Mascia inside Kerala's penalty box meant NorthEast United earned a lifeline. Captain Bartholomew Ogbeche scored the equalizer and floated hopes for a turn around. With less than two minutes on the clock, Juan Mascia scored a belter assisted by Rowllin Borges in the 90+5 minute as temperatures soared high on a chilly November night in Guwahati.
With this win, Eelco Schattorie's NorthEast United jumped to the third spot with 14 points from 7 games.
