Team Herald
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PANJIM: A fulfilling outing for Federico Gallego highlighted with an assist and a spectacular goal helped NorthEast United down ATK Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the Hero Indian Super League at the Fatorda Stadium on Tuesday.
Gallego had a part to play in Luis Machado’s opener (60′) before Roy Krishna (72′) equalised for the Mariners. Gallego’s 81st minute curler settled things for NorthEast.
NorthEast stuck to defending their area and did not have too many completed passes in the opposition half. .
It was ATKMB who kept more of the ball and looked the more threatening throughout the first half, but that was not to say that NorthEast did not have their chances.
The Mariners nearly went ahead at the stroke of halftime as David Williams, after getting the ball from Hernandez, tried to find the onrushing Prabir Das, who missed it by inches.
The opening goal when it came arrived in controversial circumstances. ATKMB defender Tiri gave away the ball cheaply as it bounced off Gallego and ran loose behind the defence. Tiri found himself in a race with Machado to get to the ball first. The Spaniard, though, took a tumble under pressure from Machado and the linesman’s flag went straight up. Referee Crystal John, however, did not stop play and Machado duly slotted it past Arindam. Despite vigorous protests by Bagan, John allowed the goal after consulting the linesman.
However, the lead lasted just over ten minutes as a low ball from Carl McHugh outside the box found Krishna unmarked at the far post. The Fijian was never going to miss a simple tap in.
After the goal, it looked like ATKMB would go on to find the winner, but Gallego had other plans. With just under ten minutes left, the Uruguayan curled one from outside the box and it went in after bouncing off the upright.
There was a late penalty call for Bagan after Krishna went down in the box under pressure from NEUFC keeper Subhasish Roy, but the referee awarded a goalkick.
