NorthEast United FC delivered a dramatic late winner to seal a thrilling 3-2 victory over Inter Kashi FC at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. Parthib Gogoi became the hero with a last-gasp 90th-minute strike.
Starting Lineups
The starting eleven of both teams is:
NorthEast United FC (4-2-3-1)
GK: Gurmeet Singh | DEF: Robin Yadav, Dinesh Singh Soraisham, Andy Rodriguez, T.S. Ngasepam | MID: M. Arshaf Attakulayan, Thoi Singh Huidrom, Macarton Nickson | ATT: Jithin M.S., Jairo, D.S. Soraisham
Inter Kashi FC (4-4-2)
GK: Subhasish Dhas | DEF: T.S. Haobam, Wayne Vaz, Sumeet Passi, N. Kumar | MID: Sergio Llamas, Mohammed Asif Khan, D. Aritra, S. Mandi | FWD: Alfred Planas, Rohit Danu
Team Stats: NorthEast United FC vs Inter Kashi FC
The full match stats are as follows.
| Stat | NorthEast United FC | Inter Kashi FC |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 14 | 11 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 3 |
| Possession | 51% | 49% |
| Fouls | 9 | 8 |
| Yellow Cards | 4 | 3 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 1 (Wayne Vaz) |
| Offsides | 4 | 0 |
| Corners | 4 | 8 |
First Half: Jithin M.S. Fires the Highlanders Ahead
NorthEast United FC started the match with sharp intent at their Guwahati fortress. The head coach set up his side in a 4-2-3-1 formation, aiming to dominate the midfield battle from the first whistle.
Inter Kashi FC, deploying a 4-4-2 shape, tried to match the energy, but the home side looked the more dangerous side. Both teams pressed high, creating an entertaining open game in the first 40 minutes.
A yellow card for Robin Yadav in the 42nd minute added to the tension at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. The crowd sensed something special was coming before the half-time whistle in Guwahati.
NorthEast United FC broke the deadlock in injury time at the end of the first half. Jithin Madathil Subran latched onto a brilliant assist from Jairo Samperio to fire home in the 45+2 minute. The stadium erupted as the Highlanders took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Second Half: Drama, Red Card, and a Rollercoaster Finish
The second half began with similar intensity. NorthEast United pushed for a second goal, and their pressure paid off through a controversial moment in the 62nd minute. Wayne Vaz of Inter Kashi FC was shown a straight red card, leaving his side with ten men.
NorthEast United FC capitalised immediately from the penalty spot. Midfielder Andy Rodriguez stepped up and converted confidently in the 63rd minute to double the lead to 2-0. The match seemed to be over at that point.
But Inter Kashi FC showed massive fighting spirit. Sergio Llamas Pardo pulled one back in the 71st minute to make it 2-1, keeping his ten-man side in the contest. The goal sparked a dramatic final 20-minute period.
In the 74th minute, NorthEast United made a double change. Parthib Gogoi replaced Andy Rodriguez, while Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia came on for Thoi Singh Huidrom. Inter Kashi also made tactical changes to chase an equaliser.
Mohammed Asif Khan delivered the most stunning moment of the match in the 82nd minute. The midfielder equalised for Inter Kashi to make it 2-2. That goal silenced the home crowd and set up a nerve-shredding final eight minutes.
Goal Timeline
The goal scorers of the match are as follows.
| Minute | Scorer | Club | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45+2′ | Jithin M.S. | NorthEast United FC | 1-0 |
| 63′ | Andy Rodriguez (P) | NorthEast United FC | 2-0 |
| 71′ | Sergio Llamas | Inter Kashi FC | 2-1 |
| 82′ | Mohammed Asif Khan | Inter Kashi FC | 2-2 |
| 90′ | Parthib Gogoi | NorthEast United FC | 3-2 |
Key Events and Substitutions
NorthEast United’s substitutions proved crucial in this match. Parthib Gogoi came off the bench to score the winning goal, while Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia and Mayakkannan added fresh energy in the second half.
Inter Kashi made key changes, too. Narender Gahlot replaced Tomba Singh Haobam in the 66th minute, while Jayesh Rane came on for Rohit Danu in the 89th minute. But none of these moves could prevent defeat.
Wayne Vaz’s red card in the 62nd minute was the defining moment of the match. Playing the final 28 minutes with ten men proved too much for Inter Kashi, despite their courageous comeback to 2-2.
Conclusion: NorthEast United FC Grab Late Winner
This was an unforgettable ISL fixture. NorthEast United FC showed character, quality, and never-say-die spirit to grab all three points in a match that had everything a football fan could want.
Parthib Gogoi’s 90th-minute winner will be remembered as a defining highlight of the ISL 2025-26 season. The Highlanders proved they can grind out results even when the opposition fights back from two goals down.
Inter Kashi FC can hold their heads high despite the loss. Facing a red card from the 62nd minute and still managing to equalise at 2-2 showed immense determination. Sergio Llamas and Mohammed Asif Khan were their standout performers.
