NorthEast United FC will begin a run of three Indian Super League (ISL 2024-25) home matches at the start of 2025 with a clash against Mohammedan SC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here Friday.
The Highlanders finished 2024 on a high with a comprehensive 3-0 away victory against Mumbai City FC, which elevated them to fourth place (P13, W6, D3, L4, Pts 21) in the ISL standings. Mohammedan are currently last in the standings with six points from 13 games. In the reverse fixture at the start of the season, NorthEast United FC had prevailed 1-0 with a late strike from Alaaeddine Ajaraie.
That strike put Ajaraie on a record spree of scoring in 8 consecutive matches at the start of the ISL season. Ajaraie, with 14 goals from 13 appearances, currently leads the chart for most goals and goal contributions. With his fourth brace of the season against Mumbai City FC, he is now also the highest goal-scorer in the history of NorthEast United FC with 17 goals and counting.
Apart from Ajaraie, the entire frontline of NorthEast United is firing on all cylinders. Jithin MS (5 assists) is the joint-most assist provider in the league. The Spanish duo of Guillermo Fernandez and Nestor Albiach have found the net four times each while young Indian forward Parthib Gogoi has two goals and three assists.
The midfield trio of Mayakkannan, Mohammed Ali Bemammer and Macarton Nickson have been marauding with the latter putting in the Player of the Match performance with a goal and an assist.
Led by captain Michel Zabaco, the backline of Asheer Akhtar, Redeem Tlang, and Buanthanglun Samte, and custodian Gurmeet Singh thwarted the Mumbai City FC attack to earn the third clean sheet of the season.
However, Juan Pedro Benali, head coach of NorthEast United FC warned his team against complacency and emphasised that only the game against Mohammedan SC matters.
“The most important game of the season is the one we have tomorrow (vs Mohammedan SC). If we think Mumbai was good and tomorrow is easy, we should stop playing football. Mentally, tomorrow is the most difficult game. We must treat the game like it’s a final,” Benali said in the pre-match press conference.
“We are preparing well under the coach’s guidance. We are not thinking about what happened in the past, we are only focused on the present. The team is ready to fight (for three points),” Robin Yadav, who joined the club in the summer transfer window, said.
Juan Pedro Benali’s men would look to begin the new year on a positive note with a victory against Mohammedan SC and consolidate their position in the ISL table.
(Photo Courtesy: Debopam Purkayastha)
