KOLKATA: Aiming to get back into the race for sixth spot on Indian Super League (ISL) table, NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) will host Punjab FC at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Thursday.
Both teams have seen their playoff hopes taking a blow in their previous games. The Highlanders, who travel back home after playing three consecutive away games, drew 2-2 at Hyderabad FC in the last game where they let go a two-goal advantage while Punjab FC went down to Mumbai City FC at home after going 2-1 ahead.
Currently, NEUFC are placed eighth on the table, with 20 points from 17 games and Punjab are 11th with 17 points from as many games. However, if NEUFC, who are one behind sixth-placed Bengaluru FC (21 from 18 ties), win against Punjab, they will go ahead of BFC and it will also boost their playoff stake.
The only clash between these two produced a 1-1 draw in October last year and the Highlanders would surely like to change that outcome in their favour. Scoring eight times in their last four matches, NEUFC would also fancy their chances in front of the home fans.
Punjab, on the other hand, have won three of their last five ISL games, with attacking players Luka Majcen, Madih Talal and Wilmar Jordan Gil playing pivotal roles to their success.
To break NorthEast’s defensive solidity, Punjab should look to outplay their hosts on the flanks as the Highlanders have conceded seven times from crosses this season. Lately both the teams are on a promising run and with the playoff chances at stake Thursday’s encounter promises to be a hard-fought one.
“We know how Punjab play. They’re a very good attacking team with three very dangerous players on the front. Now it’s our turn. We too have very good and dangerous players. And we need to play as we know. If we do our job, we can take the points,” NEUFC head coach Juan Pedro Benali said ahead of the game.
The Highlanders have roped in young goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh on a free transfer and asked about his chances of playing on Thursday, the head coach said, “Gurmeet (Singh) has trained with us yesterday (Tuesday) and today (Wednesday). We will see tomorrow (Thursday).”
Speaking about the need to improve their game, Punjab head coach Staikos Vergetis said at the pre-match press conference, “We put a very good performance in the last match for the fans and others watching the game. We have to now see what needs to be improved and we will try to work on those areas. We were a team under construction when we faced NorthEast in the previous round, but we are much better now, and we will try to make it difficult for them to play at their home ground.”
