New Delhi: With a brace, leading scorer Alaaeddine Ajaraie took his goals tally to 18 for the season, yet it couldn’t ensure NorthEast United victory in their Indian Super League away clash against Odisha FC in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
After a dull goalless first half, both teams sprang into life after the break as the contest ended 2-2. Ajaraie’s headers in the 67th and 83rd minutes put him in the same bracket with Ferran Corominas (2017-18) and Bartholomew Ogbeche (2021-22) in the highest individual goals tally for a season.
But Odisha fought back and twice restored parity through Thoiba Singh Moirangthem (78th) and Isak Vanlalruatfela (90+3) to leave the Kalinga Stadium with a point that kept them seventh in the standings with 25 points from 18 games.
Having played a game more, NorthEast, who now have dropped 17 points this season from winning positions, are fourth with 29 points, four points behind FC Goa who have 33 points from 18 games.
Opportunist Ajaraie
Odisha got the first opportunity of the match when Diego Mauricio muscled his way into the box and set up Jerry Mawihmingthanga for a routine tap-in from inside six yards. But even that simple task proved too difficult for the winger who somwhow sent the ball wide when hitting the target was the far easier option.
Rahul KP also forced a save from NEUFC keepr Gurmet Singh with a shot aftr a surging run from the right flank as the hosts probed the touring team’s backline.
NorthEast had glaring missees of their own when after the drinks break, when Macarton Nickson unleashed Jithin MS on the right flank with a through pass. Jithin set it up on a plate for Netor Albiach but the Spaniard took so much time to set it up that Maourtada Fall could produce a sliding tackle to move the ball away.
(More to follow…)
NorthEast United played out a 2-2 draw with Odisha FC in an ISL game as their striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie scored took his goals tally to 18, equalling the most number of strikes by an individual in a single season, Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
