Northeast United FC and Bengaluru FC crossed swords against each other in the first leg of their two-legged semi-final at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. The game lived up to its billing of that between the equals. But, a late penalty spoiled Bengaluru FC’s party as Northeast United FC heads into the second leg with the upper hand. The fans can read the match report here.
The game began on a tepid note but Redeem Tlang put the Highlanders on the front foot in the 20th minute through a well-taken curling shot from just inside the edge of the penalty box. Bartholomew Ogbeche and Rowllin Borges’ injuries derailed Northeast United FC’s momentum and Bengaluru FC made them pay in the 85th minute through Xisco Hernandez.
Just when it seemed the shares are going to be spoiled, Harmanjot Singh Khabra conceded a late penalty and Juan Mascia maintained his cool and calm composure to make it 2-1. The second leg will be played on 11th February at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
Twitteratis were divided on referee Santosh Kumar’s decision to award the Highlanders a penalty but appreciated their valiant effort in the game to pick up a victory over the league leaders. Here is the wittiest of their collection:
The volcano that have been building up the last few seasons has finally erupted and the lava flowing out of it is hot, hot to the core. This will only cool down once we achieve what we deserve.#HighlanderBrigade #WWTTT #8States1United #HeroISL #NEUBEN pic.twitter.com/yWBhywdmH1
— Highlander Brigade (@HighlanderB8) March 7, 2019
What a day for @NEUtdFC……. First Semi Final……… First Semi Final leg victory……… First goal for Redeem Tlang is ISL. Congrats @ESchattorie #WWTTT #NEUBEN @HighlanderB8 pic.twitter.com/Qsq8dgicMm
— Geetali Dutta (@geetali_dutta) March 7, 2019
#Redeem scores a beauty for @NEUtdFC 1-0 #NEUBEN @bengalurufc have to step up. #HeroISL
— Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) March 7, 2019
REDEEM!!!! Started with @NEUtdFC in Season 1 when he was drafted in to the squad as Shillong Lajong's former U19 captain. The boy from Northeast gives the Highlanders a priceless lead. 1 NIL! #NEUBEN #HeroISL
— Anant Tyagi (@anant174) March 7, 2019
HT: @NEUtdFC 1-0 @bengalurufc
Hosts on top but Ogbeche had to be taken off injured!#NEUBEN #HeroISL pic.twitter.com/GDitl0Dikr
— Goal India (@Goal_India) March 7, 2019
#NEUBEN we could have won that game 3-0..bt the mistakes from refree #ISL ..pls it's a request to bring foreign refrees so that our indian refree will also be benifited #starsportsIndia ..
— Dibyadarshan (@Dibyadarshan9) March 7, 2019
Deserving win for @NEUtdFC . This result should be 4-1 as two penalty were not given . Awesome performance .#NEUBEN
— Md Shaheen Perwez (@shaheen_perwez) March 7, 2019
Everything to play for at the fortress. We are BFC and we ain't done. Come on, BFC !
#NEUBEN #WeAreBFC— West Block Blues (@WestBlockBlues) March 7, 2019
Really is that look for a penalty!!!! The umpires can't even give correct decision @bengalurufc #NEUBEN
— Vinay (@Vinaysj24) March 7, 2019
#Mascia is the messiah for @NEUtdFC once again!!! Wow!!!
Clear penalty… Great composure, wonderful finish#WhatAGame#NEUBEN #HeroISL #LetsFootball
— atish thukral (@thukraltales) March 7, 2019
Bullshit call! Happens every game and you want to call it now! Joke
— ErikPaartalu (@ErikPaartalu) March 7, 2019
NorthEast are nailing in terms of work rate. Bengaluru have been very subdued so far. They have to up the intensity level of they are to get anything out of tonight's clash #NEUBEN #HeroISL
— Kaushal Shukla (@KasualShukla) March 7, 2019
Well done @NEUtdFC showed great fight. @ESchattorie well done coach. You deserve every bit of credit for setting up the team really well. Despite few injury concerns we deserved to go 2nd leg semifinal with one goal lead. Now another 90 minutes of fight highlanders. #NEUBEN
— Nizamul Bhuyan (@NizamulBhuyan1) March 7, 2019
82' GOALLLLLL……⚽⚽⚽
Cometh the hour ..cometh the man
Its the legend @chetrisunil11 who sweated enough before finding the magician @xiscohm31 who slots it from close range to brinh @bengalurufc into the game ..NEU 1-1 BEN#HeroISL #LetsFootball #FanBannaPadega #NEUBEN pic.twitter.com/9TgqdUpuKK
— footlu (@footluIND) March 7, 2019
Second best in that game, for sure. NorthEast deserved their win. Referee had a stinker throughout. The away goal could just become what decides this tie. To the Fortress on Monday.
— Aaditya Narayan (@Aaditya_LFC) March 7, 2019
@bengalurufc We should not be upset by today's game! Guys cheer upp… Cause we have a home game coming! Lets get them out of the League💪. Book your tickets now on BOOK MY SHOW!!! #WeAreBFC
— Saqlain Khan (@Saqlain79753997) March 7, 2019
We've been pushed to the brink before and we've come out on top then. We've done it before and we can do it again. Come Monday night, we go into battle. Let's do this @bengalurufc.#WeAreBFC
— Vijay.R.B (@TheBaronVj) March 7, 2019
We were terrible and should have hold on when we equalized knowing it's not our day.
All to do it at The Fortress which I believe we will. Let's do it! #WeAreBFC 🔵
— SAM (@sunilmarkal) March 7, 2019
Unnecessary tackle that led to the free kick at the end of the game, unnecessary wrestling by Khabra and Bheke that led to the penalty- we must now show up on Monday to support our warriors @bengalurufc
— Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11) March 7, 2019
