Will the Highlanders bounce back? This is the question troubling every North East United FC fan, as the team will be in a hunt to regain their momentum when they lock horns with Odisha who will be in search of their first win of the season. The Highlanders will be coming into the Tuesday’s game with 10 points from 7 games, against the bottom-placed Odisha FC. After a not so convincing performance in the last game, Nus will have to find ways to gel the ‘machine’ well and sharpen the finishing edge. Match 37 will kick off at 1930 hours from GMC Stadium in Bambolim. We cannot afford another setback, and there is only one way the Highlanders should strive for – uphill!
North East United FC
The Highlanders were bidding to extend their unbeaten run to seven games in the last match, which would have been their best start to an ISL season, but things did not turn out as hoped. The team lacked the intensity and understanding, and wasn’t clinical in front of goal. They missed a penalty. Nus’s men will have to go back to the drawing board to get the best out of his lads.
The only goal in the last match showed that the team needs to close the space well inside the box while defending. However, with the command of Fox and Lambot inside the box, and replicating the well-drilled mid-field to cover the defence – the Highlanders look set their. In the mid-field Camara and Apuia, are dominating the ball but the team needs to find a creative force through the middle whether in the form of Gallego or Charra. Ninthoi and the wingers will be eyeing to level up their performances after a disappointing show in the last game. The two strikers upfront need to find their scoring boots soon and need to be more lethal as well. Good news on the selection side is that there is no reported injury.
"We are going to be an offensive team tomorrow, we are going to go for the three points and prove it to everyone," Nus said in the pre-match conference. The team has failed to score in their previous two games despite creating plenty of chances, and the weary attack needs polishing. It will be a good opportunity for the Highlanders to score some goals and dominate the game to regain their form.
Odisha FC
Odisha FC is placed at the bottom of the league and has only one point after 6 games. The Bhubaneswar based team has scored three goals in the tournament so far and conceded nine times. The team could also miss the services of Marcelinho, Kamaljit Singh and Diawandou Diagne due to injury.
Odisha FC is a team that looks to build from the back but has not achieved much success at the two ends of the pitch. Stuart Baxter will have a difficult task to get the best out of his team. "Whatever solutions we're planning will be as a team, it won't be based on an individual marking a man closely. It will be about giving each other support and making sure we shove them into the spaces where we can manage them," said Baxter in the pre-match conference on the team’s performance.
The two teams have met twice in the league so far with one victory for either side. Both the teams need the full three points to get the momentum going on their side as we approach the mid of the seventh edition. The well-structured squad of Nus will try to break the low block of Baxter’s men.
Our prediction -Juggernauts 0:1 Highlanders
Up The Highlanders
We Walk Through This Together
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