Coach
Khalid
Jamil
breathed
a
sigh
of
relief
in
the
end
as
the
Highlanders
closed
a
rather
inconsistent
evening
leaving
the
Gaurs
languishing
at
the
bottom
of
the
table
still
searching
for
their
first
point.

1

2245877

The
Highlanders
found
the
opener
through
Rochharzela
(10′)
but
Alexander
Romario
Jesuraj
(13′)
equalised
minutes
later.

Captain
Edu
Bedia
was
left
out
to
accommodate
former
Highlander
Dylan
Fox.
Airam
Cabrera
did
not
feature
in
the
matchday
squad
as
he
was
nursing
a
small
niggle.

Rochharzela,
making
his
first
start
of
the
season
paid
dividends
at
the
very
outset.
The
Mizoram-born
winger
capitalised
on
the
FC
Goa
defence,
which
went
missing.

Mathias
Coureur
won
the
ball
from
the
left
with
Fox
unable
to
intercept.
A
through
ball
played
to
Rochharzela
saw
him
clear
and
he
went
into
the
box
to
shoot
home,
albeit
post
a
deflection
off
the
upright.

The
joy
was
short-lived.
Jorge
Ortiz
ran
close
to
the
byline
and
squared
it
for
Jesuraj
who
flipped
it
back.
The
ball
was
played
back
into
space
from
the
other
end
by
Noguera
and
Jesuraj
made
amends
by
slotting
the
ball
past
the
goalkeeper,
to
equalise
in
a
couple
of
minutes.

FC
Goa
looked
like
the
dominant
side
after
their
goal.
The
Gaurs
had
multiple
opportunities
which
they
failed
to
take
advantage
of.
Glan
Martins
had
a
couple
of
long-range
shots
that
flew
over
the
bar.

However,
NorthEast
could
have
taken
the
lead
just
before
the
break
when
a
Sehnaj
Singh
freekick
found
Lalkhawpuimawia,
who
managed
to
beat
Dheeraj
but
the
striker’s
header
failed
to
find
the
target.

Juan
Ferrando
brought
on
Devendra
Murgaonkar
to
spice
up
the
attack
but
it
was
Coureur
at
the
other
end
that
threatened
to
disturb
the
scorers.
The
Martinican
took
a
half
volley
from
outside
the
box
but
he
was
denied
by
the
post
at
the
hour
mark.

Ten
minutes
later,
Coureur
hit
iron
again!
A
long
punt
from
the
centre
circle
had
Dheeraj’s
heart
in
his
mouth
but
the
ball
ricocheted
off
the
bar.

Despite
the
introduction
of
Deshorn
Brown,
the
Guwahati-based
side
seemed
to
have
been
heading
towards
sharing
points
with
the
Gaurs.

But,
it
was
the
late
heroic
by
Khassa
Camara
(90+4′)
that
sealed
the
match
for
the
Highlanders.
A
brilliant
long
range
strike
by
Camara
found
the
left
corner
of
the
target
giving
NorthEast
the
all
important
lead.

Source:
ISL
Media