Kochi: When the ISL fixtures were released late September with Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United squaring up in the first and last games of the league stage, it hadn’t appeared that the latter meeting would prove to be the most important game of the season.
As it turns out, Sunday’s match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here, the last league game of the season, is more than just a fusion of two most football frenzied regions of the country as they will play for a place in the semi-finals. The winner will join Mumbai City, Delhi Dynamos and Atletico de Kolkata in the playoffs. With Kochi set to host ISL-3 final, Kerala would hope to progress while NorthEast seek their first ever semi-final entry over the three seasons.
With 19 points, Steve Coppell’s side need just a draw to book their second semi-final in three years, but nothing less than a win will suffice for Nelo Vingada’s Highlanders.
However, Kerala head coach has said that they will not play for just a point against a side he considers “a tough team to beat.” “We certainly won’t be playing for a draw,” said Coppell, who feels NorthEast had “edged” it (1-0) when the sides met in Guwahati. An ankle injuryto Josu Currais, who’s been a revelation at left-back and the suspension of Mehtab Hossain has given Coppell food for thought. Rino Anto will fill in Josu’s void while Elhadji Ndoye is expected to depute for the midfield enforcer.
Kerala are unbeaten since their 5-0 thrashing at Mumbai while NorthEast last lost five rounds earlier, in Goa, and Vingada takes confidence in the fact that they failed to score in just one away fixture, which was against Mumbai in the third round.
“It is like a final of the world cup for us,” said the Portuguese. In the continued absence of former India no. 1, Subrata Paul, Kerala lad T. P. Rehensh will stand at the NorthEast goal while Nicolas Velez, who has scored thrice and given an assist, in his last three matches, will undergo a late fitness test.
