NorthEast United FC played host to Bengaluru FC in their first ever semi-final appearance in the Indian Super League at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium Guwahati. It was a historic game for the team from Guwahati as they made their maiden ISL playoffs. Both, the teams came into the game without being in their best run of form as both the sides managed only two wins since Christmas. The game promised to be an exciting encounter as on the previous two occasions when both the sides met during the league stages they produced two mouth-watering clashes. The match started on a bright note for Northeast United as they as they took control of the game from the beginning. Bengaluru FC looked out of place during the initial few minutes. Redeem Tlang gave NorthEast United the lead in the 20th minute by scoring a world-class goal. NorthEast went into the half time break leading Bengaluru FC 1-0. Bengaluru came back stronger in the second half and played a much better brand of football. They finally equalised in the 82nd minute through Francisco Hernandez. Northeast wrapped up the game in added time through a Juan Mascia penalty to give Northeast a slender advantage in the semifinals against Bengaluru FC. The scoreboard at fulltime read 2-1 in favour of the Highlanders. On that note let us take a look at five talking points from today's game #5 Bengaluru FC's lacklustre display after the international break continues Some teams were bound to be affected by AFC Asian Cup break, and it seems like Bengaluru FC have suffered the most from the break. After the break, they haven't been able to regroup and get their act together. They have managed to win to only two games after the break. One reason could be the fact that Sunil Chhetri, Udanta and Gurpreet have all had a recent dip in form after the Asian Cup. Losing Eric Paartalu to an injury has also affected BFC's performance in the last few matches. Bengaluru FC was poor in the first half especially and was completely overrun in midfield. There seemed to be a complete lack of cohesion in the side, and Carles Cuadrat will hope that his boys can get their act together on Monday. 1 / 5 NEXT<doc-sep>NorthEast United added a fresh chapter in their remarkable season in the Indian Super League by recording their maiden win over table toppers Bengaluru FC in the first leg of the semi-final tie. Guwahati: NorthEast United added a fresh chapter in their remarkable season in the Indian Super League by recording their maiden win over table toppers Bengaluru FC in the first leg of the semi-final tie. The Highlanders will take a 2-1 lead to Bengaluru for Monday night’s second leg. Their spirited performance in Guwahati makes Eelco Schattorie’s team an extremely uncomfortable opponents for the Blues who are looking to become the first ISL team to reach consecutive finals. Bengaluru were clear favourites for the tie given their quality and consistency, with NorthEast United’s growing injury list contributing to the gulf between the teams. However, the Highlanders had no plans to roll over and started the game on a strong note. Cheered on by a vocal crowd of around 21,000, NorthEast United’s intensity caused problems for Bengaluru who struggled to settle into any kind of an attacking rhythm. The visitors tried to press the home side to gain control, but the hosts’ ploy of crowding their own half during the build-up proved to be quite successful. While building up from the back, both full-backs tucked in to create an overload in midfield while the wide midfield players dropped into the space vacated by the full-backs to provide another option out wide. Thus, NorthEast United were comfortably able to bypass the Bengaluru press. In central midfield, Jose Leudo and Rowlin Borges’ tenacity proved to be vital factor in linking up the defence with attack. They were quicker, stronger and hungrier in every challenge they made to dominate the midfield area. Without the ball, the full-backs regained their original position as the Highlanders transitioned into a very solid 4-5-1 formation from their fluid 4-1-4-1 when they had the ball at their feet. The visitors who lined up in a typical 4-2-3-1 were too passive and static to cause a vibrant NorthEast any problems. The home side, who dominated the central midfield area, were able to bring in the wide players into play a lot more often compared to Bengaluru. In the first 20 minutes, NorthEast United had launched four crosses into the Bengaluru box who had none of their own. The first goal did come from an assault from wide left when Redeem Tlang was allowed run into the box and send a left-footed curler past a helpless Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The goal cemented the beliefs of the NorthEast United player who went on to dominate the first half. Bengaluru were too disjointed with big distance between their forward, midfield and defensive lines. Thanks to their work rate and fluid movement, NorthEast United were able to successfully exploit those gaps and create openings. Bengaluru needed to go few notches up in terms of intensity, but the hosts never allowed Carles Cuadrat’s men sustained spell of possession. Their incessant closing down of passing lanes forced Bengaluru into errors and their counter-attacks never materialised in the first half. The only blemish on the Highlanders’ first half was the injury to center forward Bartholomew Ogbeche who had to be replaced just before the interval due to a hamstring injury. His replacement Juan Mascia had attributes of his own, but holding the ball up like Ogbeche wasn’t one of it.. Things were to get worse for NorthEast United when midfielder Rowlin Borges had to come off after aggravating his own hamstring injury that he had sustained during a set-piece training session on Wednesday. The home side were able to keep the intensity going for another fifteen minutes until Cuadrat threw Xisco Hernandez to help Bengaluru have a greater influence with the ball in the tight central spaces. Eventually the absence of a midfield passer and a target man begin to feel as Bengaluru seized the initiative. Recognising his team’s struggles at maintaining the work rate and intensity post the hour mark, Schattorie threw in an extra defender to switch to a 5-4-1 system to see the remainder of the game out. Bengaluru though were able to find a breakthrough, albeit controversially, when Xisco tapped home a neatly measured cross from Sunil Chhetri. NorthEast complained about a foul in the build-up on substitute striker Mascia, but their protests perhaps led to their downfall as the momentary lapse in concentration allowed Xisco a free run into the six yard area to finish Chhetri’s cross. The game was there for the taking for the visitors, but the home side did well to hang on. In the end, a moment of madness from Harmanjyot Khabra gifted NorthEast United a chance to restore the balance of the tie by winning the first leg of the semi-final. Mascia under immense pressure converted the spot kick to give the Highlanders a much-deserved lead in the semi-final tie. NorthEast United, who boast a fine record away from home, are certain to make life difficult for Bengaluru at the Kanteerava, who will now have to pin hopes of reaching the final on their usual heroics at their fortress. With Ogbeche and Borges likely to miss the second leg, Schattorie will have to come up with a different tactical plan to counter the threat of Bengaluru in the second leg, The Dutchman has more often than not delivered the goods when similar challenge has been thrown at him in the past. The slender lead which the Highlanders take to Bengaluru means the battling NorthEast United will have a say at the Kanteerava. Bengaluru need to match the energy level and intensity of their hosts on Thursday, to enable their superior technical quality to make a difference on Monday. NorthEast United even without their most priced resources are no pushovers. Thursday’s result shows Bengaluru will need a special night at fortress Kanteerava to ensure passage to yet another final. An intriguing second leg awaits!<doc-sep>NEUFC vs BFC 1st playoffs: NorthEast United FC will take on previous season’s runners-up Bengaluru FC in the first leg of the first semi-final on Thursday. (File Photo) NEUFC vs BFC 1st playoffs: NorthEast United FC will take on previous season’s runners-up Bengaluru FC in the first leg of the first semi-final on Thursday. (File Photo) NorthEast United vs Bengaluru FC: NorthEast United FC will take on previous season’s runners-up Bengaluru FC in the first leg of the first semi-final of Indian Super League on Thursday. The match will be played at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati and the kick-off is scheduled at 7.30 pm. The Highlanders secured a berth in the play-offs for the first time after the team finished fourth, just two points above Jamshedpur FC. Despite sharing equal points and same number of wins with FC Goa, Bengaluru FC were placed top of the table thanks to a better head-to-head record. When is Indian Super League semifinal match between NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC? The Indian Super League semifinal between NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC will be played on March 7, 2019. Where is Indian Super League semifinal match between NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC? The Indian Super League semifinal match between NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC will be played at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. What time does Indian Super League semifinal match between NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC? Indian Super League semifinal match between NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC will begin at 7.30 pm. The teams will be announced around 6.30 PM IST. Which TV channels will broadcast Indian Super League semifinal match between NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC? Indian Super League semifinal match between NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC will broadcast on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 HD Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil and Star Sports 1 Bangla for regional commentary. How do I watch online live streaming of Indian Super League play-offs match between NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC? Indian Super League semifinal match between NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC live streaming will be available on Hotstar. You can catch live scores, live updates and live commentary on IndianExpress.com.<doc-sep>ISL 2018-19 Semi-Final highlights, Northeast United vs Bengaluru FC Football Live Score Streaming: NEUFC aim to make history. ISL 2018-19 Semi-Final highlights, Northeast United vs Bengaluru FC Football Live Score Streaming: NEUFC aim to make history. ISL 2018-19 Semi-Final highlights: Juan Mascia converted a spot-kick deep in the stoppage time to hand NorthEast United a thrilling 2-1 win over table toppers Bengaluru FC. After earning the penalty for his team, Mascia stepped up for the challenge as he blasted the ball into the top corner in the final minute of the match. The hosts dominated over their opponents right from the word go as they went into the first-half break with a one-goal advantage. Redeem Tlang broke the deadlock in the 20th minute as he took a touch inside the box before curling it inside the far post. However, Bengaluru FC showed signs of a fightback as they started the second half on a brighter note. Substitute Xisco Hernandez scored the equaliser in the 82nd minute for the visitors after he tapped in a low cross, which was brilliantly created by Sunil Chhetri. [show_isl_scorecard id =27236]<doc-sep>
The Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2018-19 season is in its business end as NorthEast United will host Bengaluru FC in the first leg of the first semi-final. The entertaining fixture will take place at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium of Guwahati on Thursday. NorthEast United will be over the moon, making their first playoffs in the history of the league. Things went very well for the Highlanders right from the start, with the club finding key players at most departments. Bartholomew Ogbeche, Rowllin Borges and Mato Grgic have been all at their best to hand the team a place in the Top 4 for most of the season. Eelco Schattorie had the perfect plans in his books to seal 7 trumping victories throughout the season. NorthEast also had one of the best defences in the league, conceding the least number of goals - 18. Having qualified at the 4th position, the home game would be a real test for Schattorie and his boys. Bengaluru FC came into the season under a new coach - Carles Cuadrat. Though there were initial doubts regarding his appointment, Cuadrat was successful in implementing his plans well. BFC, who remained unbeaten till January, had some tough time towards the end of the season. After the international break, they lost 4 games, thereby denting their confidence. However, the Miku-Chhetri combination never lost its glamour and would again be the manager's trump card at the big stage. Finishing at the top of the table even after the gloomy matchdays was a job well done and they will be walking into the semi-finals with their heads held high. NorthEast United vs Bengaluru FC: Match Information Date: 7 March 2019 Kickoff: 7:30 PM IST Live Stream: Star Sports Network and Hotstar Live commentary: NorthEast United vs Bengaluru FC Live Score | Commentary and Updates Venue: Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati NorthEast United vs Bengaluru FC: Team News NorthEast United Mislov Komorski was earlier ruled out with an injury leaving a void in defence. And Gurwinder Singh, who was doing a fair job in his place, was sent off with a red card in the previous game. As a result, he will be suspended for the first leg. Bengaluru FC The latest news from the BFC camp is that Erik Paartalu will not return this season and the club have acquired the services of Alex Barrera as a replacement. All other players are known to be available for the playoffs. NorthEast United vs Bengaluru FC: Probable Lineups NorthEast United (4-2-3-1): Pawan Kumar, Keegan Pereira, Mato Grgic, Janeiler Rivas, Reagan Singh, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Rowllin Borges, Federico Gallego, Redeem Tlang, Panagiotis Triadis, Bartholomew Ogbeche Bengaluru FC (4-2-3-1): Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Rahul Bheke, Juanan, Albert Serran, Nishu Kumar, Harmnajot Khabra, Dimas Delgado, Udanta Singh, Xisco Hernandez, Sunil Chhetri, Miku NorthEast United vs Bengaluru FC: Form Guide NorthEast United: D-D-W-D-L Bengaluru FC: L-W-L-L-D NorthEast United vs Bengaluru FC: Head-to-Head NorthEast United: 0 Bengaluru FC: 3 Draw: 1 NorthEast United vs Bengaluru FC: Key Players NorthEast United NorthEast United have two major pillars on whom the result of the tie could depend. Bartholomew Ogbeche in attack and Rowllin Borges in midfield will have a busy day at work against Bengaluru. Both these players have been the best performers of the team this season and would be wanting to repeat the same on the home leg of the semi-finals. Ogbeche has 12 goals this season and has been the reason for fear for every defender. On the other hand, Borges has done a silent job by scoring 2 goals and providing 4 assists from the midfield. Bengaluru FC Bengaluru FC will have their major duties assigned to Sunil Chhetri and Xisco Hernandez. With Erik Paartalu missing from action, Xisco will have to take up more defensive workloads. Chhetri has been playing a vital part as always, scoring 8 goals and 2 registering assists. If the Spanish man too can contribute his part well, BFC could very well come out victorious. NorthEast United vs Bengaluru FC: Predictions The best two teams are coming face-to-face and thus it is extremely tough to make predictions. The tussle will be between the midfield of the two sides. With both the coaches likely to go for a double-defensive midfield and a single striker, it will be up to the players to prove their mark. In an action-guaranteed semi-final game, it might be Bengaluru FC heading home with the lead. Predicted Score - NorthEast United 1:2 Bengaluru FC