Shillong, 29 March 2025: It’s crunch time.
NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) will lock horns with Jamshedpur FC in a blockbuster Sunday clash in the Indian Super League (ISL 2024-25) Playoff (Knockout 2) match here at the JN Stadium.
NorthEast United FC did a league double over Jamshedpur FC — a thumping 5-0 victory at home and a gritty 0-2 win on the road. Both teams finished their league campaign with 38 points from 24 games, but NorthEast United FC will have a home advantage in the playoffs due to their superior head-to-head record.
However, NorthEast United FC’s head coach Juan Pedro Benali emphasised that the previous two games hold no bearing on Sunday’s clash. “The past has nothing to do with it. This is the quarterfinals, it’s one game. It’s do or die.”
“Both teams want to go to the semifinals. There is a little more pressure on us, playing in front of our fans. There’s no room for complacency. We must play confidently, stick to our plans to stop rivals and if we do that, we will succeed,” Benali added.
The Highlanders have played free-flowing attacking football this season and have scored 46 goals in the league, just one shy of Mohun Bagan SG’s highest tally of 47. Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie has been in sensational form with 30 goal contributions (23 goals and 7 assists) in 24 games. Against Jamshedpur, he scored a brace in both games and had an assist to his name in the 5-0 win.
Ajaraie has been well supported by the Spanish duo of Nestor Albiach (6 goals and 1 assist) and Guillermo Fernandez (5 goals). The Indian duo of Jithin MS (2 goals and 7 assists) and Parthib Gogoi (2 goals and 3 assists) have added to the Highlanders’ firepower.
The midfield troika of Mayakkannan, Mohammed Ali Bemammer and Macarton Nickson, a recent member of the Indian national team, have added solidity and creativity in the centre of the park to go with their seven goal contributions (5 goals and 2 assists).
Led by captain Michel Zabaco, the Highlanders’ backline of Shillong-local Redeem Tlang, Asheer Akhtar, Dinesh Singh, Zabaco, Tondonba Singh and Buanthanglun Samte have kept the defence watertight — eight clean sheets between them.
Gurmeet Singh, who was part of the India national team for recent international friendly and AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, has kept seven clean sheets and has made 67 saves so far.
“It will be a very tough game. Jamshedpur has their style of play, but we have our own style. If we want to be in the semifinals, we have to play as a team, work hard and if we do that, we will prevail,” captain Michel Zabaco said.
Come Sunday, Juan Pedro Benali’s men would look to make it count when it matters the most and book their spot in the ISL semifinals and set up a date with Mohun Bagan SG.
