Parthib Gogoi’s late heroics hand NorthEast United dramatic win over Inter Kashi

NorthEast United FC produced one of their most dramatic performances of the season as a late strike from Parthib Gogoi secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Inter Kashi in the Indian Super League at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday.

In a contest that swung wildly across both halves, NorthEast United appeared to be cruising toward victory after establishing a two-goal advantage early in the second half. But Inter Kashi responded impressively despite being reduced to 10 men, scoring twice to level the game before Parthib delivered the decisive moment in the 90th minute. The victory lifted NorthEast United to 10th place in the standings with 10 points from 11 matches, while Inter Kashi remained eighth with 11 points from 10 outings.

Much of NorthEast’s attacking threat came through the brilliance of Jairo Samperio, whose influence shaped the outcome of the contest. The Spaniard was eventually named Man of the Match after playing a direct role in two goals while tormenting the Inter Kashi defence throughout the evening. Inter Kashi, however, began the game with greater control.

The visitors dominated possession in the early stages and looked sharper during transitions, repeatedly testing the NorthEast defence with long-range attempts. Mohammed Asif and Tomba Singh both came close from distance, while Alfred Planas Moya linked effectively with Rohit Danu down the right flank.

Despite controlling territory, Inter Kashi struggled to produce the decisive final ball. NorthEast gradually settled into the game and increasingly turned toward Jairo for attacking inspiration. The experienced winger looked dangerous every time he received possession in advanced areas.

In the 38th minute, he nearly broke the deadlock after cutting inside and striking the post with a powerful effort. Moments later, he found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Shubham Dhas, only for the Inter Kashi shot-stopper to deny him with an important save.

Just when the first half seemed destined to end scoreless, Jairo produced the breakthrough moment. Deep into stoppage time, the Spaniard surged down the right wing, beating two defenders before delivering a perfectly weighted cutback into the penalty area. Jithin MS arrived at the right moment and smashed the finish into the top corner, sending the home crowd into celebration and giving the Highlanders a crucial lead before halftime.

That momentum carried directly into the second half.

NorthEast United looked far more confident after the restart, controlling possession and dictating the rhythm of the game. Inter Kashi struggled to handle Jairo’s movement between the lines, and the pressure eventually forced a major turning point in the 61st minute. Once again, Jairo drove aggressively into the box before being brought down by centre-back Wayne Vaz. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot and also produced a red card for Vaz, reducing Inter Kashi to 10 men.

Andy Rodríguez calmly converted the penalty to double NorthEast’s advantage and seemingly place the match beyond reach.

But instead of collapsing, Inter Kashi responded with remarkable resilience. The visitors began attacking with greater urgency despite their numerical disadvantage, and their persistence paid off in the 71st minute through Sergio Llamas. The Spaniard produced an excellent free-kick that curled beyond the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner, instantly changing the momentum of the contest.

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Suddenly, belief returned to the visitors. NorthEast, who had looked fully in control minutes earlier, began showing signs of nervousness as Inter Kashi pushed higher up the pitch. The visitors continued committing bodies forward and found their equaliser in the 82nd minute. A loose ball inside the penalty area fell kindly for Mohammed Asif, who reacted quickest to slot home and complete a stunning comeback.

At 2-2, the match became completely open.

Both teams searched aggressively for a winning goal in the closing stages, with the intensity inside the stadium rising dramatically. NorthEast United eventually found their decisive moment through one of their local stars. In the 90th minute, substitute Parthib Gogoi collected possession on the right side before driving into the box with confidence. The forward maintained his composure under pressure and guided a precise finish into the bottom corner to restore NorthEast’s lead and trigger wild celebrations among the home supporters.

It was a fitting moment for one of the club’s most exciting attacking talents. Inter Kashi attempted one final push during stoppage time, sending players forward in search of another equaliser, but NorthEast defended resolutely to secure a valuable victory. Beyond the three points, the result also highlighted the fighting spirit both sides displayed across an absorbing contest.

For NorthEast United, the victory offers much-needed momentum after a difficult stretch of results. Jairo’s creativity, Jithin’s finishing and Parthib’s decisive cameo provided important attacking positives moving forward. Inter Kashi, meanwhile, may leave Guwahati frustrated by the defeat, but their response after going two goals down with 10 men demonstrated character and tactical discipline.

Ultimately though, the night belonged to NorthEast United and to Parthib Gogoi, whose late intervention settled one of the season’s most entertaining matches.