Northeast win a point after 1-1 draw with Delhi Dynamos Ashwin to lead TN in Syed Mustaq Ali T20 tourney
GUWAHATI: Northeast United FC were left to rue missed chances, particularly at the end, as they settled for a 1-1 draw against Delhi Dynamos FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) clash here on Thursday.
Northeast United have won only one of their last seven matches but continue to be in contention for a semifinal spot.
The point sees them move four points clear of fifth-placed Jamshedpur FC but they have played a game more, while Delhi Dynamos remain eighth.
After an even first-half, Marcos Tebar put the visitors in the lead in the 67th minute.
Star striker Bartholomew Ogbeche equalled Ferran Corominas in the race for the Golden Boot race by scoring his 11th goal from the spot in the 71st minute.
The Highlanders went for the kill towards the end but saw chance after chance go amiss, including a shot from Rowllin Borges which was clawed on to the crossbar by an alert Delhi goalkeeper Francisco Dorronsoro.
Northeast looked to get Ogbeche involved in the game right from the start with several long balls. However, the offside flag and timely interceptions by the Delhi backline prevented the Nigerian from getting a free sight on goal.
Northeast custodian TP Rehenesh almost gifted a goal to the opposition when he misplaced a pass straight to Lallianzuala Chhangte in the 24th minute.
The winger took the ball into the box and tried to side-foot it into the net but the goalkeeper made up for his error by parrying the shot away.
The game opened up as the first half wore on and the hosts went close three times at the stroke of half-time.
Delhi goalkeeper Dorronsoro kept out Borges’ attempts on goal twice before a curled effort by Triadis ricocheted off the post.
After the break, Northeast kept probing and Ogbeche missed a glorious chance in the 49th minute.
With the Delhi backline looking to push up, Robert Lalthlamuana released the Nigerian behind the defence but the striker was unable to hit the target from a one-onone with Dorronsoro. After holding firm at the back post the break, Delhi took the lead in the 67th minute against the run of play. CHENNAI: India Test spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will lead Tamil Nadu in the Syed Musthaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament to be held at Surat from February 21 to March 2.
Opener Murali Vijay doesn’t find a place in the squad announced Thursday.
Young all-rounder M S Washington Sundar is back in the team after missing action for a while following an injury during the limited-overs leg of the Australia tour, a TNCA press note said.
He has been named vice-captain of the squad.
All-rounder Vijay Shankar, who is currently with the Indian team playing in the T20 series in New Zealand after making his ODI debut in Australia, has been picked in the 16-man squad.
Murali Vijay, who was dropped after failing to shine in the first two Tests in the series Down Under, had featured in a Tamil Nadu Cricket Association I Division
league match on Wednesday. B Indrajith, the captain of the Ranji Trophy side has been named while his twin brother B Aparajith doesn’t feature in the team.
The squad also includes C Hari Nishaanth, who did well in the Tamil Nadu Premier League last year apart from R Vivek, who came to the fore with his big hitting.