ISL: NorthEast United FC vs Bengaluru FC tie opened for crowd
Match to kick off at 6 pm
Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: After lots of discussion and meeting finally football has won. The ban on the crowed-entry for the ISL tie between NorthEast United FC and Bengaluru FC, scheduled to be held tomorrow evening at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, is withdrawn and they can visit the stadium to witness the crucial game of home team as usual. However, the kick-off time is preponing and the match will start at six in the evening instead of its scheduled time 7-30 pm. On the other hand tickets will be available at the box office from tomorrow morning.
The decision to open the gate for the spectators was taken after the several rounds of meeting between the ISL authority and top security officials of the state who are monitoring the situation on day to day basis. Guwahati and the other parts of the state witnessed huge protests against CAA and it made the state unrest recently. The situation forced to postpone the last home match of NEUFC and Chenniyan FC. However, for the last couple of days, the condition is gradually improving and it was the reason that crowds are finally allowed to visit the stadium to watch the game.
Meanwhile, NorthEast United FC is coming into this game off a 0-3 loss to ATK at home. Not only was it their first defeat of the season, but they also lost their star striker Asamoah Gyan to injury in that game.
Addressing pre-match press conference here today NorthEast coach Robert Jarni admitted: “That was the worst match we had played this season. We have to forget that day and continue working hard.”
The Highlanders will again be without the prolific Ghanaian on Wednesday against Bengaluru. Gyan, who has three goals to his name, has been crucial to NorthEast setup so far. Without the former Premier League star, their attacking threat goes down a few notches and the other forwards will have their task cut out against a formidable Bengaluru defense which has conceded the least in the league.