ISL 2018-19: Northeast United FC qualifies for playoffs as Jamshedpur FC share the spoils with Chennaiyin FC

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Chennaiyin FC's Anirudh Thapa tussles for the ball with Jamshedpur FC's Mario Arques in their Hero ISL encounter (Credits- ISL Media)
Chennaiyin FC's Anirudh Thapa tussles for the ball with Jamshedpur FC's Mario Arques in their Hero ISL encounter (Credits- ISL Media)

Northeast United FC became the fourth and the final team to qualify for the playoffs after Jamshedpur FC shared the spoils with Chennaiyin FC at the Marina Arena in Chennai. Both the sides failed to break the deadlock with the final scoreline reading 0-0.

Chennaiyin FC's Anirudh Thapa tussles for the ball with Jamshedpur FC's Mario Arques in their Hero ISL encounter (Credits- ISL Media)
Chennaiyin FC’s Anirudh Thapa tussles for the ball with Jamshedpur FC’s Mario Arques in their Hero ISL encounter (Credits- ISL Media)

The first thirty minutes of the game was pretty insipid as not a single shot was fired on target and both the goalkeepers weren’t even tested. However, both the sides showed signs of urgency after that with Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper Karanjit Singh producing a point-blank range to deny Mario Arques from taking the lead after the Spaniard nodded in Sergio Cidoncha’s curling delivery from the left flank.

Jamshedpur FC needed nothing less than a victory to stay alive in the competition. Despite knowing this, the Jharkhand-based team took the safety first approach and tried to sneak in through set-pieces. The plans nearly worked in the 50th minute when Carlos Calvo’s free-kick struck the hands of Isaac Vanmalsawma inside the penalty box. However, neither the referee nor his assistant noticed it and the play continued.

In the dying embers of the game, substitute Michael Soosairaj bulged the ball into the back of the net after Mario Arques slipped in Carlos Calvo’s cross. However, the former Chennai City FC player failed to time his run and the joy soon converted into sorrow as the referee raised the offside flag.

The draw meant Jamshedpur FC now have 24 points 17 matches, four behind Northeast United FC. Both the teams have only one game to spare which meant Cesar Ferrando and his boys’ chances mathematically over.