NE pips Kerala with Koke marker

And it reached a fever pitch when at the stroke of halftime North East United FC took the lead after withstanding the storm from Kerala Blasters that lashed its shores early in the match.

Kerala took control of the match early and Penn Orji, Mehtab Hossain and Sabeeth combined well with Ian Hume and McAlister to make deep inroads into the rival citadel. And they were rewarded, well almost, in the 16th minute when Ian Hume collecting a ball from Sabeeth slots it home only to be ruled offside. 

Ten minutes later Sabeeth drove down left flank cut into the middle and let go a rasping right footer that brought out the best from Alexandros Tzorvas of North East United FC.

But NE United slowly got back into the game, pressing forward and holding their defence high. They soon got their first chance when Durga Boro let go a screamer from 40 yards that saw David James barely keep it out. Four minutes later in the 40th minute James Keene almost found the target with a back header.

The second half saw Kerala come back strongly. Trevor Morgan brought in Michael Chopra and Barisic and its unfortunate that Chopra did not find his name on the score sheet. First a long ranger struck the crossbar and then a goalline overhead clearance saw the ball land in Chopra’s path whose low drive was kept away. In the added time Barisic release Hume with a clever throw-in only to see the striker shoot wide from close. 

NE was happy to defend most of the time. But they could have wrapped up the match had not Do Dong missed from close and then again Robin with minutes from close.

(Reporting by Arindam Basu)