In one of the most compelling matches of the AIFF Super Cup 2025, NorthEast United FC pulled off a stunning 2–1 win over FC Goa under the floodlights at Fatorda on Saturday night.
Goals from Chema Núñez and Robin Yadav sealed a famous victory for the Highlanders, who showed steel and composure to hand the already-qualified Gaurs a rare home defeat. While FC Goa dominated possession and territory for long spells, they were punished for their profligacy in front of goal. The match served as a perfect example of how football can defy momentum where control doesn’t always equal command. For NorthEast, it was a statement win: gritty, opportunistic, and hard-earned.
As the teams took the pitch before a roaring Fatorda crowd, Goa’s orange-clad supporters expected another home win to close Group B on a high. Head coach Manolo Márquez opted for an attacking setup, with Udanta Singh, Ayush Dev Chhetri, and Sahil Tavora in support of the front line. From the opening whistle, Goa dictated the tempo. They moved the ball swiftly through the channels, switching play to stretch the NorthEast backline. The Highlanders, compact in a 4-4-2, soaked up the pressure and defended deep, relying on sporadic counters.
The first half, though scoreless, was rich in intensity. Goa’s early forays came through Vincy Barreto and Udanta Singh, both finding pockets of space but failing to apply the finishing touch. In the 34th minute, Ayush Dev Chhetri came close his curling effort narrowly missed the far post. Udanta, relentless down the right, also went close before halftime but was denied by a well-positioned goalkeeper.
By the break, Goa had enjoyed over 70% possession, yet the scoreboard still read 0–0. The home side walked off frustrated; NorthEast, organized and disciplined, sensed an opportunity brewing.
Chema Núñez Sparks the Shock
When the second half resumed, the momentum initially stayed with Goa. They pressed higher, moving the ball with urgency, while NorthEast absorbed pressure patiently. The first warning for the visitors came at the hour mark when midfielder Pol Moreno was booked for a clumsy challenge on Udanta a sign that the Highlanders were increasingly stretched. Then came the twist. Against the run of play in the 68th minute, Chema Núñez broke the deadlock. Exploiting a rare lapse in Goa’s midfield tracking, Núñez pounced on a through ball, drove toward the edge of the box, and finished clinically past the advancing Arshdeep Singh. The Fatorda crowd fell momentarily silent; NorthEast’s white shirts erupted in celebration.
It was a move born of precision rather than pace a quick turnover, two passes, and a lethal finish. The goal completely shifted the complexion of the match, injecting belief into the Highlanders and urgency into the Gaurs.
The shock seemed to awaken Goa. Just four minutes later, in the 72nd minute, the hosts found their equaliser through Sahil Tavora. A chaotic sequence inside the box saw Brison Fernandes tussle for possession amid a crowd of defenders, the ball ricocheted kindly, and Tavora reacted quickest bundling it across the line from close range. The stadium roared back to life. Goa’s bench rose as one; the equaliser felt like a release of frustration after 70 minutes of effort. Tavora, always industrious, embodied the fighting spirit that has made Goa such a consistent force in Indian football.
But if the equaliser was meant to turn the tide, NorthEast United had other ideas.
Robin Yadav Restores the Lead
Barely five minutes after conceding, the Highlanders hit back with a vengeance. Robin Yadav, who had been solid defensively all evening, stepped up in the 77th minute with a thunderous strike that restored NorthEast’s advantage.
It began with a slick move down the right Núñez, buoyed by his earlier goal, threaded a clever pass inside. Yadav arrived late into the box and struck cleanly, his right-footed drive flashing past Arshdeep into the bottom corner. The away bench exploded; the scoreboard read FC Goa 1–2 NorthEast United, and disbelief swept through Fatorda. The Highlanders’ young side, often written off for inconsistency, were now within touching distance of one of their biggest results of the season.
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To their credit, Goa threw everything forward in the final ten minutes. Márquez introduced fresh legs Noah Sadaoui and Carl McHugh to chase the game, and the hosts nearly found their second equaliser when Udanta’s curling effort shaved the post in the 86th minute.
But NorthEast United’s defensive wall held firm. Goalkeeper Mirshad Michu was outstanding in the closing stages, punching away crosses and commanding his area with authority. The Highlanders’ backline, marshalled by Tondonba Singh and Pol Moreno, repelled wave after wave of orange shirts.
Four minutes of stoppage time offered Goa one last chance, but it never came. The referee’s final whistle was met with mixed emotions frustration for Goa, jubilation for the visitors.
This was more than just a group-stage win for NorthEast United it was a validation of tactical maturity. Coach Juan Pedro Benali had set his side up perfectly: compact in shape, ruthless in transition, and clinical when it mattered.
While Goa had the ball, NorthEast had the moments. The pairing of Chema Núñez and Robin Yadav delivered a balanced mix of creativity and composure, and the defensive unit stayed remarkably organized. The result didn’t alter Goa’s qualification they had already sealed passage to the semi-finals but it delivered a wake-up call. Their inability to convert dominance into goals remains a recurring theme, and defensive lapses at key junctures continue to cost them in tight matches.
Final Score and Key Takeaways
Full-time: FC Goa 1–2 NorthEast United FC
Goals: Núñez (68’), Tavora (72’), Yadav (77’)
- Man of the Match: Chema Núñez instrumental in the opener and orchestrator of the second.
- Turning Point: Núñez’s goal in the 68th minute, completely flipping the game’s momentum.
- Stat of the Night: Goa had 64% possession but only three shots on target proof of NorthEast’s defensive discipline.
FC Goa finish Group B still advancing to the semifinals, but the defeat breaks their momentum ahead of the knockout rounds. For NorthEast United, it’s a night to remember their first win over Goa in Fatorda in nearly four years, achieved through sheer determination and tactical clarity.
Under the Goan floodlights, the Highlanders reminded everyone that in football, possession is temporary but belief is everything.
