Guwahati, India: Spanish striker Koke’s opportunistic first-half strike ensured a 1-0 win for the NorthEast FC against the Sachin Tendulkar co-owned Kerala Blasters FC in the second match of the Hero Indian Super League on Monday.
The former Marseille frontman struck at the stroke of the break in the 45th minute with a snap angular right-footer that beat former England custodian David James.
It came from an Aibor Khongjee throw inside the box towards David Ngaihte, who rolled it towards the tip of the box for Koke. The 31-year-old ‘Man from Malaga’ took a first time shot to find the net.
NorthEast could have gone ahead in the 33rd minute, when a 30-yard pile-driver from Durga Boro was brilliantly saved by an airborne James. Boro unleashed a lethal hit with his outstep and James dived full stretch to keep the home team at bay despite the vociferous support from the partisan capacity crowd at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.
With the support of Tendulkar from the stands, Blasters could have taken the lead but an Iain Hume goal was ruled off-side. Jamie McAllister provided a beautiful pass on the left flank for Stephen Pearson, whose cross saw Hume tap in but the officials disallowed the strike.
The ‘Yellow Brigade’, coached by Trevor Morgan, were in the ascendancy but former East Bengal playmaker Penn Orji and current Mohun Bagan striker CS Sabeeth could not provide the team with an equaliser.
