ISL 2023-24: NorthEast United FC and Jamshedpur FC Face-off in Crutial Tie

As NorthEast United FC gets ready to host Jamshedpur FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Thursday, October 26, both teams would know that they need to convert promising starts into maximum points to not lose sight of the top of the table. After four games, both teams are stuck with identical returns i.e. one victory, two draws, and a loss each.

These outcomes have secured them a spot in the top-six but anyone who has observed their games can vouch for the fact that they arguably deserve more points to their name. Under new coaching setups, they have sparked a turnaround in terms of their output and the head coaches will be hoping that results worthy of the same soon follows.

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What’s at stake?

NorthEast United FC

Juan Pedro Benali has given the NorthEast United faithful the belief to dream yet again, starting from their semi-final finish in the Durand Cup to the inspiring style of play in the last four games. They might not have the results to show for it but fortune favours the brave and the home team has been nothing if not proactive, industrious, and enterprising both in their mindset as well as their style of play in this campaign.

Jamshedpur FC

Jamshedpur FC is dealing with the dual dilemma of tapping either the creativity of Rei Tachikawa or giving him a more advanced role to yield the benefits of his goal-scoring abilities. The Japanese star has notched the team’s only goal of the season so far and was at his absolute playmaking best in their 0-0 draw against Punjab FC. Scott Cooper has strengthened the backline, gotten the midfield playing cohesively, but he now needs to find an imposing presence that can capitalise on the numerous chances that they create in the final third.

Key Players

Parthib Gogoi (NorthEast United FC)

Often, it is not about what you do but the way you go about doing your business that attracts applause. Parthib Gogoi has scored thrice this season, but it is the sheer breath-taking nature of his goals that has made heads turn and take notice of his prodigious talent. Outside of the box, a powerful shot, and into the top corner of the net – the 20-year-old has produced many moments of magic already and the jam-packed Guwahati stadium will definitely want more of the same when they welcome Jamshedpur on Thursday.

Rei Tachikawa (Jamshedpur FC)

Being the talisman of a team comes with immense pressure and Rei Tachikawa has shouldered that responsibility incredibly at merely 25 years of age. Mere observance of his footwork, creative vision, and ability to pierce backlines with his sharp passes reiterate that he is a cut above the rest. The Highlanders won’t make things easy for Cooper’s side in their home turf and Tachikawa will have to lead the charge of Jamshedpur’s offensive moves for them to bring an end to their current disappointing goal-scoring form.

Head-to-Head

Played – 12

NorthEast United FC – 1

Jamshedpur FC – 6

Draws – 5

Trivia: Jamshedpur FC have kept three clean sheets and conceded the least goals (1) amongst all teams this season.

Team Talk

“It’s a good start for what we are looking for. We are building a team and every time we take points, it’s very important to achieve gradually and to become difficult to play against (for other teams). It’s about giving a small push to players to do well and slowly you give opportunities to the younger ones,” NorthEast United FC Head Coach Juan Pedro Benali spoke about their start of the campaign and the club’s motive of handing playing time to promising prospects within their setup.

“We are satisfied with the performances but disappointed with the results, because we should have won, especially the last game as many chances were created. We are a club that’s developing a team, much like NorthEast are. Both ourselves and NorthEast have shown that we are new teams, with new style, new belief, new way of playing, new coaches, and I think both teams are doing a really good job,” Jamshedpur FC Interim Head Coach Scott Cooper said in the pre-match press conference.