NorthEast United Beat Kerala Blasters 4-1 as Ajaraie Scores Twice

NorthEast United FC beat Kerala Blasters FC 4-1 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday, with Alaaeddine Ajaraie scoring twice to send the Highlanders to the top of the Indian Super League table. Antonio Moyano scored in first half stoppage time and debutant Aman CK added the fourth late on. It was NorthEast United's second win in a row at the start of the season.

Ajaraie opened the scoring on 15 minutes. Eneko Satrustegui played a through ball behind the Kerala defence, and the Moroccan forward rounded goalkeeper Arsh Anwer before finishing calmly. NorthEast kept pushing. Arsh saved a header from Jithin MS to keep Kerala in the game, and at the other end Andre Green had an effort blocked by Satrustegui, while Amey Ranawade failed to convert a cross from Adrian Luna.

The turning point came deep in first half stoppage time. Ajaraie's first shot was blocked by Hormipam Ruivah, but he recovered the ball and slipped it to Moyano, who finished to make it 2-0 at the break, in the fourth minute of added time. A two goal lead at half time changed the whole shape of the game: Kerala had to chase, and NorthEast could pick their moments.

Kerala made two changes at half time, with Korou Singh and Sandeep Singh replacing Ranawade and Hormipam. The visitors still had to survive more pressure, with Arsh saving again from Moyano and Jithin. Then, against the run of play, Kerala scored. On the hour, Momo Yansane turned in a flick from Luna with a low shot past Gurmeet Singh to make it 2-1, and for a few minutes the game opened up.

Ajaraie settled it on 70 minutes with his second goal of the night, restoring the two goal cushion. He was substituted three minutes later, with Nikola Ninkovic coming on, and Aman CK replaced Jithin at the same stoppage. Aman, on his debut, scored the fourth on 82 minutes from a pass by Louis Nickson Macarton, completing a night the home crowd will remember.

What the result means

Two wins from two put NorthEast United at the top of the early ISL table under coach Juan Pedro Benali, and the manner of the wins matters as much as the points. The Highlanders scored four against one of the league's biggest clubs, with goals spread across the front line and a debutant scoring from the bench. Kerala, one of the best supported teams in the country, have work to do at the back after conceding four, even if Yansane's goal and Luna's assist showed the attack can still create.

Key numbers

• Final score: NorthEast United 4, Kerala Blasters 1
• Scorers: Ajaraie 15, 70; Moyano 45+4; Aman CK 82; Yansane 60 for Kerala
• Venue: Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati
• NorthEast United: second straight win, top of the ISL table
• Aman CK scored on his debut, eight minutes after coming on