Playoffs contender Northeast will go head-to-head against Chennai in Indian Football League 2020-21 on Thursday night. Highlanders have strong chances to finish in the top four, while Chennai are almost out of the playoffs race.
Match Timings: Feb 18, 7:30 PM IST
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Indian Football League 2020-21’s playoff fight is high and three teams are the main contenders to finish at third and fourth, considering Mariners and Mumbai on top-two. Hyderabad’s compelling 4-0 victory against Kerala gave Northeast a tough equation. Goa, Northeast, and Hyderabad are fighting each other for the last two spots in the playoff. Highlanders have the best chances as they are just one point behind Hyderabad with one game in hand. Northeast scored four goals in the last outing to better its goal difference. Highlanders dominated Odisha from the starting of the first half and it made all the difference.
Luis Machado scored the opening goal in the 9th minute and Brown made the lead double with another strike after 10 minutes. Just five minutes, Machado scored another to complete his brace. Inman notched up his maiden goal and Odisha scored just before the first-half break. Kalinga Warriors could have reduced the gap but Highlanders kept its defense tight. Highlanders are unbeaten from the last seven matches and their last defeat was recorded against Hyderabad on January 08. Since then, Northeast defeated two strong sides, Mariners and Mumbai. Against the playoff rivals, Goa and Hyderabad, they played a draw. During this run, they scored 12 goals and conceded just 7. Northeast look firm favourites to gain three more points. The previous meeting between the two sides was ended in a goalless draw.
Meanwhile, Chennai’s campaign was more about playing draw games. They have played joint-most draw games this season and they have played most goalless draw which a bad record. Two-times tournament winners have secured just three wins out of 18 matches and with two more games in hand, Marina Machans are out of the playoff race. In the last outing, Chennai were better than Goa but an injury-time strike from Ishan Pandita spoiled all the efforts. They dominated the game with the very first minute and it paid off when Sylvestr scored in the 13th minute.
Chennai made a mistake to offer a chance to Goa and conceded a penalty. Igor Angulo sent the ball past Vishal Kaith after a second chance to make the scoreline 1-1 after the first half. Chhangte regained the lead with a second-half goal and the match was in full control of Chennai but Ishan Pandita rescued Gaurs one more time with an injury-time goal. Chennai would aim for a better finish and they have to look for victories in the next two games.
Possible Lineups & Current Form
Chennai
Vishal Kaith; Reagan Singh, Enes Sipovic, Eli Sabia, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Edwin Vanspaul, Manuel Lanzarote, Memo Moura, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Jakub Sylvestr, Rahim Ali
Current Form: D L D L D
Previous Match: 2-2 draw with Goa
Northeast
Subhasish Roy; Gurjinder Kumar, Ashutosh Mehta, Benjamin Lambot, Mashoor Shereef, Khassa Camara, Federico Gallego, Lalengmawia, Suhair Vadakkepeedika, Luis Machado, Deshorn Brown
Current Form: W D D W W
Previous Match: 4-1 victory against Odisha
Key Players
Chennai
Esmael Goncalves
4 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Rahim Ali
2 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Northeast
Federico Gallego
6 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Rochharzela
2 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
