Romaric goal gives NorthEast much-needed win
Romaric scored his first goal of the ISL with a sumptuous free-kick which saw NorthEast United edge FC Pune City 1-0 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati.
In a fiery game which had 6 yellow cards, Romaric's goal came in the 81st minute of the game leaving Pune with little time to find the equalizer. This leaves NorthEast with plenty left to do, but with hope going into the last three games of the campaign. The home team were winless in six games coming into this match. Interestingly, their last win had also come against Pune City.
The away team looked like a tired side -- getting only four days of rest following their thrilling 4-3 win over in-form Delhi Dynamos.
Nicolas Velez ran ragged across the two flanks and put in a great shift for the home team, while Subrata Paul also played his part in the win with a crucial save late on.
With eight points separating all eight teams, you expect the football to do the talking, but the story of the first half of the match were the three yellow cards flashed towards the end of the half. Romaric's tussle on Pune's Eduardo Ferreira saw their coach Antonio Habas have a few words exchanged with Romaric, who was later issued a card for the challenge. Jonatan Lucca got a yellow for a tackle on Romaric two minutes later and the half ended when Muhamed Sissoko got into the referee's books for literally picking up Velez and throwing him on the ground. It could have been a red card on any other day, but referee Nick Waldron was lenient enough to just issue a warning. All of this happened in the last three minutes of the first half -- probably the only talking point of the match till then.
The best goal-bound action of the half fell to Lucca in the 21st minute when he found himself inside the box, unmarked, and with only the keeper to beat, the Brazillian scuffed his shot from his weaker left foot. NorthEast did have a chance of their own a couple of minutes before as Velez ran across the left flank to pull it back for Romaric to shoot, but his first time shot went well wide.
NorthEast United's top-scorer Emiliano Alfaro put in a great shift throughout the half and accounted two of the home team's best chances. Narayan Das' mistake led to Alfaro getting the ball six yards from goal, but the Argentine, instead of taking a first time shot, pulled it back for Velez. Pune cleared the ball, while the incident showcased a sign of a striker short of confidence.
The second half was brighter and it was the home team who were charged up for the occasion. Alfaro found himself on the by-line early in the second, but a dangerous tackle by Gouramangi Singh kept the score goalless. Katsumi Yusa was next to come close to scoring when snap shot from just outside the box was fisted away by Edel Bete. A minute later, it was Alfaro again who took one touch to many inside the box, wasting another golden opportunity.
Pune, with tired legs never troubled the home side's defence, but in the 70th minute, a chance came out of nowhere when Lenny Rodrigues hit the post. The Goan took the ball away while NorthEast looked to counter and unleashed a powerful low shot that beat Subrata with ease. However, it was just wide of goal.
Pitu, who came on for misfiring Lucca, also could have given Pune the lead when Arata set him up with a half-volley from close range, but Subrata produced a great reflex save to deny the Spaniard.
The moment of the match came a minute later when Velez cut in from the right and his intended shot was handled by Eduardo that gave away the free-kick for the winning goal along with a yellow-card for the latter. Romaric then stepped up to place the ball in the bottom corner of the net to send the dugout into frenzied celebration.
Pune did put pressure in the end minutes of the game, but the home team did enough to hold on for three points and win their first game in seven attempts.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Nick Waldron
Indian Super League News