ISL 2018-19, NorthEast United FC 1-1 FC Pune City: 5 Talking Points - Highlanders close in on playoff qualification

NorthEast United FC hosted FC Pune City in their last home game of the league stage in the Indian Super League. It was a crucial match for NorthEast United FC as a win would have ensured a spot for them in the playoffs for the first time in the history of the Indian Super League.

FC Pune City has been on the rise lately, and it was no easy task for the Highlanders to get the better of FC Pune City. The match started on a bright note as both the side looked to play an attacking brand of football.

The teams went into the half time break with the scores level at nil-nil. NorthEast United started the second half with all guns blazing and scored in the 47th minute to take the lead through a Rowllin Borges strike. Pune equalised in the 69th minute. The game ended 1-1.

On that note let us take a look at the five talking points from the game.

#5 Eelco Schattorie vs Trevor Morgan: Battle of two ex-East Bengal coaches

It was a game where ex-East Bengal coaches managed both the teams. Eelco Schattorie, the NorthEast United manager and Trevor Morgan the assistant manager of FC Pune City, were both at a point of time managers of East Bengal in the I-League.

FC Pune City coach Phil Brown mentioned it very clear that Trevor Morgan has had a significant impact on the team and that his experience of coaching in India has been a huge plus point.

Eelco’s impact on the league is there for everyone to see as he has managed to make NorthEast United FC the team with the lowest budget one of the best performing teams in the league.

Both the coaches are known to be among the best coaches to have coached in India, and both prefer to play a creative brand of football. Both Eelco and Trevor Morgan are the oldest serving foreign coaches in top-level Indian football at the moment.

The game lived up to its expectation of a livewire as both the teams showcased an attacking brand of football. The intent of both the sides was clear from the word go as both the teams wanted to leave the pitch with all three points.

#4 Diego Carlos and Triadis battle it out on the flanks

Carlos put a brilliant display on the night [Image: ISL]

Diego Carlos, the Pune wing-back, had an excellent game and was seen running up and down the flanks throughout the ninety minutes. Triadis the new Northeastern recruit was seen doing the same for his side for the seventy odd minutes that he played, and both the foreign players entertained the crowd with their constant duel.

While Carlos did a good job keeping Triadis in check in the attacking third, Triadis did his bit in the defensive aspect to help NorthEast United secure a vital point from a tight game.

Carlos, in general, didn't give Keegan, the NorthEast left-back a moment's peace as he kept on making those runs which created a lot of problems for the NorthEast defence.

He created one glorious opportunity for Iain Hume who even managed to put the ball past the keeper, but the linesman flagged it offside. Triadis also had a positive impact for NorthEast United while going forward and created a few scoring chances for Ogbeche.

#3 Kamaljit's blunder, Pawan Kumar's heroic save seal the fate of both the teams

Kamaljit Singh's blunder cost Pune dearly [Image: ISL]

Right at the start of the second half, NorthEast United went ahead due to a horrendous mistake by the FC Pune City shot-stopper Kamaljit Singh. Ogbeche played a forward ball into the box which should have been collected easily by the goalie, but he made a complete blunder of the situation and gifted Rowllin Borges an open net to open the scoring for NorthEast United FC.

At the other end, Pawan Kumar made a heroic diving save from an Ashique cross which took a wicked deflection and was going in. The save was made just at the right time, and even a feeble slip would have seen Pune get the winner and win the game.

It was a game that was decided by two goalkeeping incidents to be true one heroic and one blunder. Kamaljit made a lot of feeble saves during the game also spilt the ball a couple of times. His defence rescued him on a couple of occasions after making poor saves.

#2 Draw sees Pune's dream of making the playoffs end

Phil Brown's tactics rejuvenated Pune but there was only so much that he could do [Image: ISL]

With just a point from a must-win game, Pune's hopes of making the playoff have ended. Pune had a slim chance of making the cut for the playoffs, and the primary condition was that they had to win all their remaining games. Failing to win the game against NorthEast United means that they don't have any chance of making the playoffs.

That said and done they do play Mumbai, and the result of that game will be of significant value for NorthEast United FC and Jamshedpur FC too, as their fates are interlinked with that of Pune and Mumbai.

When Phill Brown took over as head coach, no one even dreamt of seeing FC Pune City be alive and still with a mathematical probability of making the playoffs but with three back to back wins they had got themselves into a position which could have seen them make the cut for the playoffs if they won all their games.

Phil Brown and his strategy of 5-3-2 has really worked well with FC Pune City, and it has been a revelation of sorts for the club and the league. With hopes of playoffs over, the team will now look to shift their focus on the Super Cup.

#1 Deja Vu Moment for NorthEast United FC

In season 3, NorthEast United FC needed a win from their last game but failed to get the job done and missed the playoff bus. This season they find themselves in a similar situation. A win in the last game guarantees them of a playoff spot. The opponents for their next game is the same as the opponent two years back Kerala Blasters.

Two years back, NorthEast United missed the service of a certain Nico Velez while this time around they will be without Jose Leudo, and Mato Grgic as both are suspended for the tie.

Given the dynamics of the team, NorthEast United will find it hard to field proper defenders for the next game, and a playoff position from this situation looks very tough.

Going all out in the game against Kerala could also have its drawbacks as a shaky defence means NEUFC will be susceptible on the counter.

Eelco Schattorie will have his hands full in the next few days before the tie as he misses out two of his most influentials players in defence. Ogbeche and Gallego's sudden dip in form is another thing to worry for the Dutch coach.

With an ex NorthEast United manager coaching Kerala Blasters it will be an exciting encounter. With the playoffs in sight, NorthEast will have to play out their skins to ensure a first playoff berth.

Edited by Raunak J