NEUFC rout EB to go third on the table

They came in numbers and showed their support in freezing Shillong evenings for the first two games.
But the Highlanders fans finally got their wish fulfilled in their last Indian Super League (ISL) group game of the season, and last at their second ‘home' at JN Stadium, as NorthEast United found their mojo in a 4-0 win over a second-string East Bengal in the early fixture on Saturday.
The frenzy of the fans was doubled by a brace from star striker Allaedddine Ajaraie (66', 79') who became only the fourth player to score against all teams in an ISL season while taking his tally to 23 goals. The in-form Nestor Albiach (59') earlier opened the scoring for the hosts while Mohammed Bemammer (86') added the fourth in the dying moments.
Juan Pedro Benali's men ended their league-stage campaign with 38 points from 24 games and rode their better goal difference to stay in third spot. They will now hope for Jamshedpur FC to falter against Chennaiyin FC on Sunday that will hand the Highlanders a home fixture in the playoffs.
East Bengal, meanwhile, finished their season languishing in ninth spot with 28 points from their 24 matches. They made 10 changes to their starting XI with assistant coach Bino George at the helm in absence of Oscar Brezon.
Both teams showed eagerness for an early breakthrough but the first half belonged to the two goalkeepers on the pitch. First, it was the visiting goalkeeper who made a brilliant reflex save of an Albiach header from near goal-mouth in the 32nd minute after Ajaraie had sent in an inch-perfect cross from the left wing after an impressive build-up down the flank.
Eight minutes later, it was his counterpart Michu, playing his first match of the ISL season, who came to the rescue of the hosts and kept out what looked like a sure goal from youngster Vishnu NV. Having broken his Ramzan fast just a few minutes earlier, Michu leaped to keep out with his fingers Vishnu's swerving shot after a brilliant run inside the box.
While the teams returned to the dugout with the match locked in a stalemate, the second half changed the course of the game in NEUFC's favour.
The inexperienced East Bengal defence failed to hold on to the incessant NEUFC attacks and caved in the 59th minute when Ajaraie started a move with a back heel and Tondonba Singh sent a perfect cross for Albiach to guide it in from in front of the box.
The second, and Ajaraie's first, came in the 66th minute when the Moroccan converted following a goalmouth melee with his poaching prowess. NEUFC's star striker earned a penalty for a foul on him 13 minutes later and sent Debjit Majumder the wrong way for his second goal from the spot this season.
If that was not enough, East Bengal saw Tanmay Das sent off in the 84th minute for a second yellow and the visitors had the final heartbreak of the night when Bemammer put the ball in from another scramble at goalmouth two minutes later.