NorthEast United made it two wins from two to climb to the top of the Indian Super League table with two goals from Uruguayan striker Emiliano Alfaro. FC Goa created a number of chances but Subrata Paul was immense in front of goal to ensure that his side kept a clean-sheet and registered a 2-0 win in front of a packed Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday.
The scoreline might be tad unfair on the Goa side, who were creating chances at regular intervals but found the class of Subrata Paul, who was immense in front of goal. As early as the sixth minute of the game, a quick free-kick found Katsumi Yusa at the far post, and the Japanese chose to take a shot that cut the ball back for Alfaro, who was free in the middle.
United's lead came through the most unlikeliest of sources as relentless pressure from Alfaro forced goalkeeper Laxmikanth Kattimani to make a mistake, and a misplaced passed bounced off Alfaro and rolled into the net.
Goa hit back strongly and could have got two in the final stages of the first half. Mandar Rao Desai came close with a cut-in and shot the left flank; the ball went only inches wide of the left post. Then came Rafael Coelho's chance, where he had struck the ball cleanly, and it looked destined to into the net but Paul's outstretched hands saved the day for United.
The second half was cagey but Goa were creating chances in the NorthEast territory. The away side should have done better with a chance that skipper Lucio created, wheeling away from the defenders from the corner to head the ball back into the area.
With 10 minutes on the clock, Alfaro exchanged one-touch passes with compatriot, Nicolas Velez, who had just come on, at the edge of the box. Alfaro completed his run and bundled the ball into the net to double United's lead. Had it not been for Raju Gaikwad's stunning block from the goal-line, Alfaro could have had a hat-trick. This was United's first-ever win against Goa in the ISL.
Brief Scores:
NorthEast United (Emiliano Alfaro x 2) beat FC Goa 0
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