Ferran Corominas (14’, 38’) bagged both goals for the visitor while Federico Gallego (8’) and Bartholomew Ogbeche (53’) were the scorers for the host.

After a stop-start first few minutes, the host was gifted a goal after a terrible error from 18-year-old Mohammad Nawaz, handed an ISL debut. The Goa custodian charged out of his box and handled the ball in the belief that Bartholomew Ogbeche was offside. However, no such whistle was blown by the referee who instead awarded the free-kick to NorthEast United for a handball. With Nawaz yards outside the box, Federico Gallego showed some quick thinking to chip the dead ball into the empty net, much to the horror of Nawaz.

Having profited from Nawaz’s error to take the lead, the host relinquished it minutes later after an error by its own goalkeeper, TP Rehenesh. The NorthEast custodian failed to collect a floated cross from Jackichand Singh and Spanish sharpshooter Ferran Corominas was on hand to bundle the ball into the net.

The visitor gained a foothold in the match after the equalizer and came close to taking the lead twice through Jackichand but the winger’s first attempt was deflected away for a corner, while the second just bounced over the bar.

Goa had its deserved lead in the 39th minute with Corominas bagging his second of the night. A midfield scramble saw Hugo Bomous release the Spaniard in the box and the prolific striker did well to evade two tackles with body feints before beating Rehenesh at his near post.

In the second half, the Highlanders did not have to wait too long get its second goal with Ogbeche getting off the mark with a thumping header. The NorthEast forward’s header after a perfect cross from Keegan Pereira gave Nawaz no chance as 18000 home fans roared in delight.

The host had two gilt-edged chances to take the lead around the 65th minute when Nikhil Kadam beat his man to come one-on-one with the Goa custodian.