NorthEast United FC kicked-off their Hero Indian Super League (ISL) campaign with a 1-0 win against Kerala Blaster FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati on Monday.

Koke scored the lone goal of the match in the 45th minute, when the Spanish striker beat David James in the Kerala Blaster goal with a powerful shot to the 30,000 fans and co-owner John Abraham.

Former England U-21 captain and Player of Indian Orign Michael Chopra came on as a late substitute for the visitors from “God’s own Country” and he almost levelled the score line. But he was denied twice by “Man of the Match” Alexandros Tzorvas.

NorthEast United FC will host Atlético de Kolkata in their next match on October 16, while Kerala Blasters FC travel to Chennai to face hosts Chennaiyin FC on October 21.

2014 Hero Indian Super League
at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati

NORTHEAST UNITED FC 1-0 KERALA BLASTERS FC

GOALS
1-0 Koke (45′)

LINE-UPS

NorthEast United FC
1 Alexandros Tzorvas – 2 Aiborlang Khongjee (78′ 22 Boithang Haokip), 15 Miguel García [C], 16 Robin Gurung, 11 Joan Capdevila – 26 David Ngaihte, 19 Felipe, 17 Zohmingliana Ralte – 9 James Keene, 25 Durga Boro (62′ 20 Milan Singh), 10 Koke (71′ 7 Dong Hyun Do)

Unused Subs
13 Rehenesh – 3 Tomas Josl, 4 Kondwani Mtonga, 6 Isaac Chansa, 8 Luis Yanes, 21 Redeem Tlang, 23 Semilen Doungel, 24 Alen Deory

Kerala Blasters FC
70 David James – 2 Cedric Hengbart, 3 Jamie McAllister (76′ 27 Andrew Barisic), 5 Nirmal Chettri, 23 Avinabo Bag – 25 Stephen Pearson (64′ 8 Michael Chopra), 14 Mehtab Hossain, 16 Gurwinder Singh, 18 Penn Ikechukwu Orji [C] – 10 Iain Hume, 12 CS Sabeeth (65′ 29 Saumik Dey)

Unused Subs
30 Luis Xavier Barreto – 6 Potsangbam Renedy Singh, 11 Ishfaq Ahmed, 15 Sandesh Jhingan, 32 Colin Falvey, 44 Erwin Spitzner, 85 Victor Herrero Forcada, 88 Milagres Gonsalves

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee
Pratap Singh (India)

Assistant Referees
…, …

Fourth Official
…

BOOKINGS

Yellow Cards
44′ Jamie McAllister (Kerala Blasters FC)

Yellow-Red Cards
none

Red Cards
none

MAN OF THE MATCH

Alexandros Tzorvas (NorthEast United FC)

HERO INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE MATCH REPORT

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