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The Highlanders from NorthEast faced the Stallions in the Balewadi Sports complex today, with the match being the last piece of football both the teams would play in 2017. FC Pune City and NorthEast United are the only two teams who have not made the knockout stages of the tournament even once, and both the sides are desperate to do the same this season.
While Pune have arguably had the best of starts the ISL in their history, the story of NorthEast United are something like history repeating itself, with the team languishing at the 9th spot of the league having won just one game before the start of the game.
The match started on a bright note, as both the teams displayed an attacking brand of football, Marcinho the mercurial Brazilian made a brilliant solo run towards the Pune goal, but his shot was easily fisted away by Vishal Kaith, from which Pune started a brilliant counterattack.
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Ashique Kuruniyan scored his first goal of the season from an Emiliano Alfaro cut back. After the goal was scored, NorthEast United started bombarding Pune with a flurry of attacks, but as usual, the strikers were poor in converting the chances they created.
Marcinho doubled Pune’s lead in the 28th minute through a wonder freekick and the goal came at a time when NEUFC were having a slight upper hand in the match. At halftime Pune were leading 3-0 as NorthEast gifted another goal.
Pune scored 2 more goals in the second half to add to NorthEast's woes as the home side ran away 5-0 winners over NorthEast United.
Here, we take a look at the player ratings from the game
FC Pune City
Vishal Kaith (8.5/10): Vishal kept Pune alive in the game in the first half, and it was his save that instigated the counter-attack which led to the first goal.
Sarthak Golui (7/10): Sarthak Golui had a good game as the right back. He was tested heavily during the inital stages of the game, and the Right back did very well to stand his ground and kept pressing the likes of Meitei into running the ball out of play.
Gurtej Singh (7/10): Gurtej was brilliant for most parts of the game, but was sloppy during some occasions which allowed the likes of Marcinho and Danilo to get past with him with relative ease. He also gave up possession to Northeast with some aimless long balls.
Rafa Lopez (8/10): Rafa Lopez was sublime, as he made some brilliant ball wining tackles, he denied the likes of Marcinho and Danilo much space to turn and shoot. He also covered for Fanai, Gurtez and Sarthak's mistakes.
L. Fanai (6.5/10): Fanai was the Pune defender who was beaten the most by the NEUFC wingers. Hakku and Lenn got the better of Fanai on a host of occasions but Fanai did help the Pune wingers going forward and his link up was also very good.
Marcos Trebar (7.5/10): Trebar was tasked to be the linkup between the defence and attack. He also provided a defensive screen for the defence and did both his duties with perfection.
Adil Khan (7.5/10): Adil Khan was given the job of doing the dirty work in midfield today, and he did that with a certain amount of authority and perfection. He was also rewarded for his hard-work with a goal as he tapped in a goal from 6 yards out in the dying moments of the match
Jonathan Lucca (7/10): Lucca was the main creative mastermind for Pune today, and he had a good game. Even though he was closely marked by Martin Diaz, he did a good job in taking Diaz out of the equation. His runs allowed Marcinho space to run into and it was that movement that kept the NEUFC defenders on their heels.
Ashique Kuruniyan (7.5/10): Scored his first ever ISL goal, and was a menace for the NEUFC defenders. His first touches, turns and passing were of sublime quality today. He also helped Sarthak out in defence.
Marcinho (9/10): Marcinho literally toyed around with the NorthEast defence as he seemed to play at a completely different level. HIs movements, passes and set pieces all caused problems a plenty for the Northeast defence. His free kick today was also world class.
Emiliano Alfaro (6.5/10): Alfaro had a quiet game of sorts, and it really sounds astonishing that the team’s main striker had a quiet game despite the team scoring 5. Despite not getting on the scoresheet, he set up Ashique for the first goal, and his runs and the way he closed down the NEUFC defenders was really praise worthy.
North East United
TP Rehenesh (3.5/10): If there is ever a DVD of ISL goalkeeping bloopers made, Rehenesh would make a very good case to feature on the cover of the DVD given the number of bloopers he has committed. If any goalkeeping coach is asked to dissect today's goals they will say that 3 of the 5 goals NEUFC could have been avoided if the keeper did just a bit better. Well, and the less that is said about the 3rd goal NEUFC conceded the better.
Abdul Hakku (5/10): Hakku had the most difficult task on the field, as he was up against the dynamic Marcinho, and in truth Hakku didn’t stand a chance against Marcinho, the Brazilian ran circles around him. Hakku though, did get his act together in the second half and did venture forward in the second half.
Jose Goncalves (6/10): Had Jose not kept the likes of Lucca and Alfaro quiet, the scoreline could have been much bigger. Jose though, needs to work on his positioning as at times, he was found out of position.
Sambinha (6/10): Sambinha made some crucial ball winning tackles, and also kept Alfaro under constant vigil. Sambinha also made some good clearances. His link-up with midfield though, needs more improvement.
Reagan Singh (4.5/10): Reagan was schooled by a young Ashique who ran riot past him. Reagan was time and again beaten by Ashique’s pace and technique and was often seen chasing shadows in the NEUFC defence.
Martin Diaz (5.5/10): Martin played as a defensive midfielder, and wasn’t much impressive today as the likes of Trebar and Lucca completely controlled the midfield. Diaz did make some crucial clearances for NEUFC, though.
Rowlin Borges (6/10): Rowlin has been way below par this season in the ISL. He had an average game trying to keep the likes of Lucca in check. He has been having an issue with loss of concentration this season, and he needs to work on that. His passes today were also very poor.
Malemngamba Meitei (5/10): Malemngamba had his first start of the ISL, and was lively in the first few minutes but after that he was sort of all over the place as he failed to run down the flanks with conviction. His crosses were also poor today as they mostly failed to find a man inside the box.
Marcinho (6.5/10): Marcinho will have troubles sleeping today, he missed some sitters today, and his set pieces were poor. Marcinho needs to work on his finishing if NEUFC are to turn around their fortunes.
Seiminlen Doungel (5/10): Lenn had more than a few brilliant chances to score. But, he skied most of the chances and was denied by Kaith on one occasion. Lenn also failed to deliver quality crosses into the box.
Danilo Lopes (4.5/10): Danilo was very poor today, he hardly had touches of the ball today and his link up play was very poor. His pass completion rate was around 40% which is poor in any league. Danilo needs to pull up his socks if he wants to see his team climb up the ladder.
