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Punjab FC were outmanned and outgunned by a 10-man North East United to suffer their third defeat of the season.
NorthEast United FC in action (ISL Media)
Punjab FC suffered their third defeat of the 2024-25 season in the Indian Super League as they were beaten by NorthEast United 1-2 thanks to the first half strikes by Guillermo Fernandez and Nestor Albiach despite the visitors going down to 10 men at the Jawaharalal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday
Despite being down to 10-men, the hosts looked far from their best as they lacked the clinical touch to help convert their chances in front of goal. Right off the bat, the home team were on the back foot. The away crowd outshined the home fans and NorthEast had a fantastic start to their game. Punjab were pegged back early on with the left-back Leon Augustine picking up a yellow card after fouling Jithin MS.
By the ninth minute Alaaeddine Ajaraie had the game’s first shot on target as he cut inside on the left wing to have a shot on goal but the keeper had it in check. But it did not take long for the visitors to have their first goal of the game.
North East United bagged their first goal with a beautifully executed counter attack. The switch of play from the right to the left and Ajaraie who previously cut inside, deceived his man to go on the outside and take the shot and the deflection fell to the Guillermo Fernandez who slotted it in.
NEUFC did not take long to extend their lead either. This time, left-back Buanthanglun Samte charged onto the opposition half where he delivered a fine cross to NEUFC’s number 10, Nestor Albiach Roger who struck a picturesque volley to net their second.
As the minutes went by in the second half, Punjab FC looked to claw their way back into the contest. The fans recognized this and began cheering for the home side in the second half. But it did not result to much. Even the substitutions did not have much of an effect in the game.
Despite all odds, the Shers reduced their deficit with Ivan Novoselec bagging Punjab’s first goal of the game in the dying minutes of the second half.
With their tails up, Punjab FC looked to come back and snatch an equaliser and it may have been there for the home side as the NEUFC keeper, Gurmeet Singh made a disastrous error when he charged outside the box to regain possession, but the referee’s call to give the visitors the foul worked in their favour as they ran down the clock to finally get the win.
North East United’s win means that they now jump up to second in the league table while Punjab now sits at sixth spot. The Shers will now look to regroup and bounce back in their next game where they travel to Mumbai to take on Mumbai City FC.
