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Strikes from Nestor Albiach, Jithin MS, and Alaaeddine Ajaraie helped the visiting NEUFC rout CFC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Monday.
North East United beat Chennayin FC 3-0. (Image: X)
NorthEast United FC climbed to fifth in the Indian Super League 2024-25 standings with a resounding 3-0 win over Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Monday.
Nestor Albiach, Jithin MS and Alaaeddine Ajaraie all netted for Naushad Moosa’s Highlanders as Chennaiyin were reduced to mere bystanders on home soil.
The visitors demonstrated early intent as they capitalized on a piece of sluggish play at the back by CFC to hand Jithin a clean run-through. But, with just one rushing, Mohammad Nawaz was up to the task as he got his body in the way.
However, NEUFC went ahead within the seventh minute of play as Nestor Albiach sent a bulge into the net past a rooted Nawaz from the edge of the area on the back of some exquisite interlink play down the centre. The Highlanders looked ominous, and it augured as signs for a long evening for Owen Coyle’s boys.
Chennai had a chance to respond, as Wilmar Jordan Gil had just the keeper Gurmeet to beat, but the Colombian’s attempt at a curler into the top corner ended up being tipped away by the NorthEast custodian.
Jithin made the visitors pay for their missed chance in the 25th minute as he doubled his side’s lead by rifling one into the bottom to put the finishing touches on another bit of intricate play in the middle of the park.
Connor Shields showed strength to outmuscle his marker near the touchline as Chennaiyin went in search of a goal, but his cross turned out to be overpowered for either Gil or Irfan Yadawad to get on the end of as another chance went begging.
CFC fluffed another chance as Yadwad’s touch betrayed him from point-blank range as the spillage fell to the keeper before the tourists made it three. The league’s top scorer, Alaaeddine Ajaraie, put the ball into the net to rub salt into the wounds of the home side.
Coyle made three changes at the break as Lukas Brambilla, PC Laldinpuia, and Jitendra Singh came on for Elsinho, Pritam Kotal and Vincy Baretto. Chennai tried to break the opposition defence time and again, yet they came up short as the resilient NEUFC backline stood each test they were subjected to with aplomb.
With ten minutes left on the clock after a cagey second essay, NEUFC had the chance to extend their lead further as they were awarded a free kick from a dangerous area, which was eventually struck over the bar, before Huidrmo Thoi Singh delayed pulling the trigger after a show of quick feet that got him in behind the defence.
NEUFC held on to their clean sheet to add a coat of sheen to their win on the road as they took their season’s tally to 35 points in 23 outings.
