ISL 2020-21 Live Score, NorthEast United vs Bengaluru FC LIVE: Fox back in NEUFC XI, Khabra returns for BFC

Welcome to Sportstar's ISL 2020-21 blog of the NorthEast United FC vs Bengaluru FC clash being played at the Tilak Maidan Stadium.

16' Brilliant work from Parag, who is making just his second start in the ISL. The youngster plays a give and go with Khabra and then threads a lovely low cross for Opseth. Fox, though, clears the danger before Opseth can connect.

13' Ouch! Rochharzela gets his head taped after Pratilk elbows him while trying to win a header.

10' Gallego's corner is cleared by Paartalu and a lob is played into the box from the rebound but Suhair's header is off target. Dimas appears to be in a spot of bother here...he's clutching his lower back in pain.

7' Ashutosh runs into Chhetri....and wins a free-kick? Strange call from the ref there.

5' How often have we seen this from Bengaluru? Khabra whips in a looping cross from the right and Chhetri is at the end of it. But the BFC skipper fouls Ashutosh while trying to win the header.

 

3' Opseth tries and tries and tries, but can't make room to get a shot off from the edge of the box.

2' NorthEast United has made a last-minute change as Lalengmawia replaces Fanai in the starting XI. Fanai suffered an injury during training.

1' KICK OFF!  Bengaluru attacking from right to left.

--

7:25pm: The players are out in the middle. NorthEast United in its red kits, while Bengaluru dons its white away jersey.

7:20pm: NorthEast United has also struggled in terms of goals, having scored only four in the last five games. And two of those goals have come from the Belgian centre-back Benjamin Lambot.

 

7:10pm: A stat that you won't often associate with Bengaluru - The team has let in more goals (13) than it has scored (12) so far in the Indian Super League. BFC has also not scored in three of its last four games, all of which have ended in defeat.

 

7pm: Naushad Moosa is still coming to terms with the nature of his promotion after Carles Cuadrat's sacking last week. "You won't believe me, but it's been three sleepless nights. It's not been easy for me," he says.

While he has a gargantuan task at hand, he offers path for a new beginning at Bengaluru. READ| ISL 2020-21: No new coach bounce for Bengaluru FC, but Moosa offers path for a new beginning

 

6:50pm: Bengaluru FC interim head coach Naushad Moosa also makes three changes as Khabra and Pratik return to the XI. Suresh, who has been a workhorse for BFC, has been benched along with Udanta. Norwegian striker Opseth gets another start.

IN: Pratik Choudhary, Harmanjot Khabra, Kristian Opseth OUT: Ajith Kumar, Suresh Wangjam, Udanta Singh

 

6:45pm: Three changes for NorthEast United FC as goalkeeper Gurmeet returns to the starting XI. Defender Dylan Fox is back, while Rochharzela replaces Sylla.

IN: Gurmeet, Dylan Fox, Rochharzela, OUT: Subhasish Roy, Mashoor Shereef, Idrissa Sylla

6:30pm: Team news!

NorthEast United FC XI: Gurmeet (GK), Gurjinder Kumar, Ashutosh Mehta, Dylan Fox, Benjamin Lambot, Khassa Camara, Rochharzela, Federico Gallego, Lalengmawia, Suhair Vadakkepeedika, Luis Machado.

Bengaluru FC XI: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Rahul Bheke, Pratik Chaudhari, Juanan, Parag Srivas, Cleiton Silva, Harmanjot Khabra, Erik Paartalu, Dimas Delgado, Kristian Opseth, Sunil Chhetri.

6:15pm: Podcast: From Mumbai City and ATK Mohun Bagan's dominance to Carles Cuadrat's sacking at Bengaluru FC, our reporters Aashin Prasad and Shyam Vasudevan talk all things ISL in our latest episode of the Full Time Show. Listen in:

6pm: How will the two sides line up today? Here's our predicted line-ups -

NorthEast United FC predicted XI (4-3-3)

Gurmeet, Ashutosh Mehta, Benjamin Lambot, Dylan Fox, Gurjinder Kumar, Khassa Camara, Lalengmawia, Ninthoinganba Meetei, Federico Gallego, Luis Machado; Suhair V. P.

Bengaluru FC predicted XI (4-3-3)

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Namgyal Bhutia, Juanan, Rahul Bheke, Ajith Kumar; Erik Paartalu, Dimas Delgado, Suresh Wangjam; Cleiton Silva, Kristian Opseth, Sunil Chhetri

5:45pm: Here's our preview for today's clash -

Bengaluru FC will aim to halt its winless run in the Indian Super League when it takes on North East United FC in Vasco on Tuesday. The club has gone six matches without a win, and its defeat against SC East Bengal extended its losing streak to four matches. Known to be a good team, the Blues are under pressure; head coach Carles Cuadrat was sacked last week, and interim coach Naushad Moosa is yet to taste victory.

The team has let in more goals (13) than it has scored (12) so far in the Indian Super League. Although it had numerous shots on target, the only goal it scored in its last four games was against Mumbai City FC, via a penalty. There will also be pressure to deliver against a team it has traditionally done well against – five wins, three draws, and one loss.

'Difficult time'

“It has been a difficult time for everyone,” Bengaluru FC head coach Moosa said ahead of the contest.

“For the players and everyone involved with the club, it has not been easy. We need to overcome this form and we are working on it. The players are motivated, and I am expecting them to do better against North East United. They aren’t a bad team at all, and their position on the table (seventh) is not a reflection of their performances. They have the ability to fight back and we cannot take them lightly,” Moosa said.

No new coach bounce for BFC, but Moosa offers path for a new beginning

The Highlanders are also coming off a defeat; they went down 4-2 against Hyderabad FC last Friday. The main concern for them would be the inconsistency of their attack: they have scored only four goals in their last five matches, and will hope the absence of their main striker – Kwesi Appiah – doesn’t continue to hurt them.

“We know that Bengaluru have lost four games [in a row], but every game is new and we have to respect them,” North East United assistant coach Alison Kharsyntiew said.

“I’m sure that the players will give their best [on Tuesday]. Whatever the outcome, we know our duty. We have to forget the last match, focus on the next match and put in 100 per cent to win... No matter if we play against the best team or not, we have to be ready. We are ready for any possible attack from them,” he said.

The two sides played out a 2-2 draw the last time they met, earlier this season.

5:30pm: Bengaluru FC, reeling from four consecutive losses, will look to bounce back when it takes on NorthEast United FC in the Indian Super League on Tuesday.

NorthEast United is also enduring a tough period as the club has not won in six games.

--

Follow Sportstar's full coverage (Latest news, Interviews, Features, Points table, Quiz, Videos) of ISL 2020-21.

The seventh edition of the Indian Super League got underway inside a bio-bubble in Goa on November 20.

The tournament, spanning over four months, will see 11 teams play each other in a league and playoff format across three venues. Following the inclusion of SC East Bengal, this season will feature 115 games, up from 95 last season.

ISL 2020 will be televised live at 7.30 pm IST on Star Sports and live streamed on Disney+Hotstar and Jio TV.