Chennaiyin FC will head to Guwahati to face NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium as the two teams seek their first victory in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season. This will be the second game on the road for the Marina Machans and head coach Owen Coyle would be planning to put in a convincing performance that can help them gain some positive momentum before they play their first home match of the campaign against the Mohun Bagan Super Giant on October 7.
What’s at stake?
NorthEast United FC
The Highlanders cannot afford to slip up too many times early on this season given that they are already coming on the back of a forgettable ISL 2022-23. Tactician Juan Pedro Benali needs to win over the support of the home crowd right from the offset and hence a victory against Chennaiyin could help them ward off the demons of their demoralising 7-3 loss to them at this very ground in December 2022.
Chennaiyin FC
Coyle’s teams are renowned for playing a fluid, free-flowing style of football, especially when they attack. That coordination was missing in the previous match as they arguably appeared rusty and failed to put the ball behind the back of the net even once against Odisha FC. Coyle will want his boys to buy into his ideas from the start of the campaign, and on-field results for the same are essential starting from this encounter in Guwahati.
Key Players
Parthib Gogoi (NorthEast United FC)
The 20-year-old attacker starred with an incredible goal from the long-range against Mumbai City FC in the opening matchweek. His burst of pace, quick footwork, and element of surprise in and around the opposition box are major assets that coach Benali should look to optimise against Chennaiyin FC.
Farukh Choudhary (Chennaiyin FC)
Coyle trusts Farukh Choudhary, as has been evident with his multiple stints in the ISL. However, the 26-year-old winger needs to start translating that potential into performance. He is one of Chennaiyin’s most notable Indian players this year and has the chance to maximise his opportunities with the support of celebrated attacking counterparts such as Connor Shields and Rafael Crivellaro.
Head-to-Head
Played – 18
Chennaiyin FC – 7
NorthEast United FC – 6
Draws – 5
Trivia: Owen Coyle’s teams have beaten NorthEast United in four of the five games he has played against the team in the ISL.
Team Talk
“All the players are available at the moment. Everybody is doing their job and in a game, around 100 minutes, there are a lot of small games (phases) for a minute or two. A lot of things change in that. In the end, the most important thing is that we deserved more than what the score showed (in the last game vs Mumbai City FC) and the most important thing is to keep our heads up and think about the next match (vs Chennaiyin FC),” NorthEast United head coach Juan Pedro Benali gave a team update for the next match and stressed upon winning smaller phases of the over the course of 90 minutes.
“We know it’s a tough game. Coming to Guwahati and northeast is anytime difficult. I watched their game against Mumbai and they did really well with some really good performances. They scored a wonderful goal from a young and talented Indian player (Parthib Gogoi), which is fantastic for NorthEast and the league. So, we are under no illusion of how difficult this game will be. But, we are looking forward to it,” Chennaiyin FC coach touched upon the challenge of taking on the Highlanders in their own backyard.
Where to Watch
Viacom18 is the new home of Indian football and the match between NorthEast United FC and Chennaiyin FC will kick off at prime time of 8 PM on September 29, 2023. Fans across the country can catch the action in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam. Fans can watch the action on the linear channels like, Sports18 Khel (Hindi), Sports18 1 SD & HD (English), VH1 SD & HD (English), Surya Movies (Malayalam), DD Bangla & Colors Bangla Cinema (Bengali).
In addition to this, as part of FSDL’s partnership with OneFootball, ISL live streams and highlights to all matches of the upcoming 2023-24 season will be delivered across more than 190 countries.
ISL Fantasy: Matchweek 1 – Roundup
Highest Score – Manager Manav Gambhir leads the leaderboard in ISL Fantasy after the opening matchweek with 74 points.
Average Score – Players amassed an average score of 29.7 in the game post the first five games.
Top Picks – Jorge Pererya Diaz emerged as the hottest pick in the game from the first set of matches following his incredible twin strikes against the Highlanders away from home.
Players to Watch Out – Indian youngsters such as Liston Colaco, Parthib Gogoi, Akash Sangwan along with Kerala’s Japanese star Daisuke Sakai and Mohun Bagan’s Dimitri Petratos are the players one should secure in the team for the chance of yielding optimum returns in Matchweek 2.
If not registered already, fans can participate in the overall league or club-based leagues based on their preferences. create private leagues, inviting friends and fellow football aficionados to compete. Prizes include a Sony PlayStation®️5 gaming console, EA Sports FC 24, signed club merchandise, and a Gift Card worth INR 20,000, will be awarded to 100 winners at the end of the season.
