NorthEast United FC produced a scintillating performance at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, dismantling Chennaiyin FC 4-1 in what proved to be an utterly dominant ISL encounter.
Jairo Samperio was the star of the show, netting a brilliant brace early on to set the tone for an evening that would belong entirely to the Highlanders.
Laldinliana Renthlei’s unfortunate own goal extended the lead before he redeemed himself with a consolation strike, and substitute Lalbiakdika Vanlalvunga sealed the deal in stoppage time.
Starting Line-Ups
The starting 11 of both teams are as follows.
NorthEast United FC (4-3-3)
GK: Gurmeet Singh | DEF: Robin Yadav, Asheer Akhtar, Dinesh Singh Soraisham, Tondonba Singh Ngasepam | MID: Andy, Mohammed Arshaf Attakulayan, M. Nickson | FWD: Thoi Singh Huidrom, Jairo Samperio, Jithin M.S.
Chennaiyin FC (4-4-2)
GK: Mohd Nawaz | DEF: Mandar Rao Desai, Pritam Kotal, P.C. Laldinpuia, Laldinliana Renthlei | MID: Farukh Choudhary, Mohammed Ali Bemammer, Alberto Noguera, Lalrinliana Hnamte | FWD: Irfan Yadwad, Daniel Chukwu.
Team Statistics
The full match stats are as follows.
| NorthEast United FC | Stat | Chennaiyin FC |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Shots | 13 |
| 7 | Shots on Target | 8 |
| 35% | Ball Possession | 65% |
| 14 | Fouls | 14 |
| 4 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 2 | Offsides | 0 |
| 6 | Corners | 3 |
First Half: Jairo Lights Up Guwahati
The Highlanders started with aggressive intent and were rewarded almost immediately, as Jairo Samperio broke the deadlock as early as the 5th minute.
The Spanish striker latched onto a superb assist from Jithin Madathil Subran, finishing coolly to give NorthEast United a deserved early lead in front of their home faithful.
Chennaiyin FC, despite enjoying far more possession throughout the contest, struggled to translate their 65% ball control into clear-cut goalscoring opportunities in the opening exchanges.
Just before the half-time whistle, Jairo struck again in the first minute of injury time, doubling NorthEast United’s advantage and sending the home crowd into a frenzy at the break.
Second Half: Own Goal and More Misery for Chennaiyin
Chennaiyin made tactical changes, introducing Klusner, John Manuel Pereira, and S Prakadeswaran at the 65-minute mark to inject fresh impetus.
The Marina Machans’ misery deepened dramatically in the 70th minute when Laldinliana Renthlei turned the ball into his own net, handing NorthEast United a stunning 3-0 lead.
Laldinliana Renthlei partially made amends in the 81st minute, scoring a well-taken goal to reduce the deficit to 3-1 and give Chennaiyin a glimmer of hope.
But there was no comeback to be had. Substitute Lalbiakdika Vanlalvunga struck in the 90th minute, with a brilliant assist from Parthib Gogoi, to make it a resounding 4-1 for NEUFC.
Goal-by-Goal Timeline
The goal scorers of the match are as follows.
| Min | Scorer | Type | Assist | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5′ | Jairo Samperio | Goal | Jithin M.S. | NEUFC |
| 45+1′ | Jairo Samperio | Goal | – | NEUFC |
| 70′ | Laldinliana Renthlei | Own Goal | – | CFC |
| 81′ | Laldinliana Renthlei | Goal | – | CFC |
| 90′ | L. Vanlalvunga | Goal | Parthib Gogoi | NEUFC |
Key Takeaways from the Match
NorthEast United FC turned Guwahati into a party zone, blitzing Chennaiyin FC with ruthless counterattacks while Jairo Samperio played like he’d unlocked cheat codes for finishing.
Despite hogging possession like a kid refusing to share the football, Chennaiyin FC kept leaking goals. NorthEast United proved that sharp shooting beats pretty passing when it really matters.
Laldinliana Renthlei endured football’s ultimate emotional rollercoaster: first an unfortunate own goal, then a redemption strike. Sadly for Chennaiyin, the comeback spark arrived long after the fire alarm rang.
Substitute Lalbiakdika Vanlalvunga arrived fashionably late but still joined the scoresheet party, putting the finishing touch on NorthEast United’s statement victory and sending home fans into full celebration mode.
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Conclusion: NorthEast United Seals a Dominant 4-1 Victory Against Chennaiyin FC
NorthEast United FC delivered a truly commanding performance, picking up three vital ISL points in emphatic fashion. The Highlanders were clinical, energetic, and deeply motivated throughout the ninety minutes.
Jairo Samperio’s brace, the OG, and Vanlalvunga’s late effort made it an unforgettable night for the home faithful. This result will do wonders for NEUFC’s confidence and their ISL campaign momentum.
As for Chennaiyin FC, the result will sting deeply. They must quickly regroup and address the defensive frailties that allowed a pacey NorthEast United attack to cut through them with such ease.
