NorthEast United FC produced a stunning comeback victory against Jamshedpur FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. The final scoreline read 2-1, with Andy Rodriguez stealing the show brilliantly.
Playing in front of passionate home fans, NEUFC boss Juan Pedro Benali’s men showed incredible character. They absorbed pressure, fought back strongly, and secured three crucial ISL points with tremendous grit.
Starting Lineups
NorthEast United FC (4-4-2): G. Singh (GK); B. Samte, M. Zabaco, D.S. Soraisham, Mayakkannan; D. Meitei Laishram, Andy Rodriguez, M. Nickson, B. Oram; P. Gogoi, Jithin M.S.
Jamshedpur FC (4-2-3-1): A. Gomes (GK); M. Zothanpuia, S. Eze, P. Chaudhari, N. Barla; N. Stojanovic, P. Halder; S. Mohammed, R. Tachikawa, R. Gabriel; R. Messi Bouli.
Team Statistics
| NorthEast United FC | Stat | Jamshedpur FC |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Shots | 9 |
| 4 | Shots on Target | 2 |
| 54% | Possession | 46% |
| 11 | Fouls | 10 |
| 0 | Passes | 0 |
| 4 | Yellow Cards | 4 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Offsides | 1 |
| 1 | Corners | 3 |
First Half: A Cagey, Goalless Battle
The first half was a tight, tense affair at Guwahati. Both teams tested each other’s defenses without finding the net, keeping the scoreline goalless at halftime.
Pronay Halder of Jamshedpur received the first yellow card of the match in the 18th minute. The booking set a feisty tone for what would become an incredibly intense contest.
NorthEast United made a tactical substitution in the 40th minute, sending Asheer Akhtar onto the pitch. He replaced defender Michel Zabaco, with Benali clearly looking to reinforce the backline immediately.
Jamshedpur lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Raphaël Messi Bouli leading the attack. NEUFC responded with a compact 4-4-2 setup, with Andy Rodriguez and Bekey Oram as dual strikers.
Second Half: Andy Rodriguez Erupts with Two Goals in Style
The second half started with cards flying early. Macarton Nickson of NEUFC was booked in the 48th minute, followed closely by Jamshedpur’s defender Pratik Chaudhari at the 52nd minute mark.
Then came the breakthrough! Andy Rodriguez broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, heading or slotting home brilliantly to give NorthEast United a deserved 1-0 lead at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.
Buanthanglun Samte was next into the referee’s book, picking up a yellow in the 55th minute for NEUFC. The defender will need to stay disciplined in upcoming matches to avoid further punishment.
Messi Bouli Levels From the Spot: Jamshedpur Hit Back
Jamshedpur answered back with two second-half substitutions in the 66th minute. Lalhriatpuia Chawngthu replaced Pronay Halder, while Ritwik Das came on for Rosenberg Gabriel at the same time.
The away team was awarded a penalty in the 68th minute, and Raphaël Messi Bouli confidently stepped up to convert it. The Cameroon striker leveled the scores at 1-1 with a composed finish.
The equalizer set nerves on edge among the home faithful, but NorthEast United stayed calm. Dinesh Singh Soraisham received a yellow card in the 69th minute, but NEUFC kept their fighting spirit alive.
Late Drama and Yellow Cards: NEUFC Hold Their Nerves
Danny Meitei Laishram was shown a yellow in the 78th minute for NEUFC. Soon after, Jamshedpur introduced Manvir Singh at the 79th minute, replacing Mohammed Sanan in a desperate attacking move.
NEUFC made tactical double substitutions in the 81st minute, Thoi Singh Huidrom came on for Jithin M.S., while Ankith Padmanabhan replaced the booked Danny Meitei Laishram to freshen things up.
In the final minute, NEUFC completed a double substitution in the 90th minute. Fredy Chawngthansanga replaced Nickson, and Redeem Tlang came on for Bekey Oram as the home side saw out the win.
The referee added seven extra minutes of stoppage time, but NorthEast United FC held their shape brilliantly. There was no way through for Jamshedpur as the full-time whistle finally blew in Guwahati.
Complete Match Timeline: All Key Events
| MINUTE | EVENT | PLAYER / TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 18′ | Yellow Card | Pronay Halder (Jamshedpur) |
| 40′ | Substitution | Asheer Akhtar IN, M. Zabaco OUT (NEUFC) |
| 48′ | Yellow Card | Macarton Nickson (NEUFC) |
| 52′ | Yellow Card | Pratik Chaudhari (Jamshedpur) |
| 53′ | GOAL ⚽ | Andy Rodriguez (NEUFC) — 1-0 |
| 55′ | Yellow Card | Buanthanglun Samte (NEUFC) |
| 66′ | Substitution | Lalhriatpuia Chawngthu IN, Pronay Halder OUT (JFC) |
| 66′ | Substitution | Ritwik Das IN, R. Gabriel OUT (JFC) |
| 68′ | GOAL ⚽ (Penalty) | Raphaël Messi Bouli (JFC) — 1-1 |
| 69′ | Yellow Card | Dinesh Singh Soraisham (NEUFC) |
| 70′ | GOAL ⚽ | Andy Rodriguez (NEUFC) — 2-1 |
| 78′ | Yellow Card | Danny Meitei Laishram (NEUFC) |
| 79′ | Substitution | Manvir Singh IN, S. Mohammed OUT (JFC) |
| 81′ | Substitution | Thoi Singh IN, Jithin M.S. OUT (NEUFC) |
| 81′ | Substitution | A. Padmanabhan IN, D. Meitei Laishram OUT (NEUFC) |
| 84′ | Yellow Card | Lalhriatpuia Chawngthu (JFC) |
| 88′ | Yellow Card | Mark Zothanpuia (JFC) |
| 89′ | Substitution | Lazar Cirkovic IN, Rei Tachikawa OUT (JFC) |
| 90′ | Substitution | Fredy Chawngthansanga IN, M. Nickson OUT (NEUFC) |
| 90′ | Substitution | Redeem Tlang IN, Bekey Oram OUT (NEUFC) |
Conclusion: NorthEast United FC got Three Points
NorthEast United FC’s 2-1 win against Jamshedpur FC was a statement victory in the ISL season. The home side showed grit, quality, and the winning mentality that every top club needs in crunch moments.
Andy Rodriguez was undoubtedly the hero of this match, netting a brilliant brace. The midfielder’s goals in the 53rd and 70th minutes kept NEUFC ahead and secured an invaluable three points at home.
Jamshedpur’s Raphaël Messi Bouli showed quality with a well-taken penalty, but it was not enough. Owen Coyle’s side will be disappointed to leave Guwahati empty-handed after showing so much early promise.
For NorthEast United, this win will be a massive confidence booster. The fans in Guwahati went home happy, and Juan Pedro Benali’s team continues their strong push for a top-four ISL playoff spot.
