NorthEast United FC surpassed expectations to storm into the semifinals of Super Cup from Group D ahead of more fancied Mumbai City FC and Chennaiyin FC. In a must-win game, NEUFC crushed Churchill Brothers 6-3 at EMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode to top the group.
In the other match played simultaneously at Payyanad in Manjeri, Mumbai City FC beat Chennaiyin FC by a solitary goal. Though both the winners on Wednesday finished on six points from three games, NEUFC advanced from Group D as they had beaten Mumbai City in the group clash earlier.
Skipper Wilmar Jordan led NEUFC from the front, scoring four goals in the 27th, 44th, 51st and 70th minutes. Gani Nigam (78) and local boy Jithin MS (90+3) scored the remaining goals for NEUFC.
For Churchill, Kingslee Fernandes (54) and Martin Chaves (60) were the scorers. NEUFC defender Mohammed Irshad headed the ball into the back of his own net in the 83rd minute to hand Churchill their third goal.
Mumbai City clinched their winner against Chennaiyin in the 33rd minute. Bipin Singh and Ayush Chikkara combined well to beat the Chennaiyin defenders as the latter beat goalkeeper Samik Mitra to bludgeon the net.
In the first semifinal on Friday, Bengaluru FC will take on Jamshedpur FC at Kozhikode while NEUFC will face Odisha FC in the second semifinal at Manjeri on Saturday.
