NorthEast United looked to have missed star striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie in their first four Indian Super League (ISL) clashes this season.But on Sunday, cheered on by the home fans, NEUFC changed the disappointing course, thanks to Andy Rodriguez who finished with a brace against Jamshedpur FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati.While the opener from the Spaniard was a sublime free-kick in the 53rd minute, Rodriguez’s piledriver from outside the box in the 69th minute proved decisive as NEUFC won 2-1, their first win of the season.The Highlanders also ended Jamshedpur’s four-match winning run and a chance to move to the top of the table by exploiting leaders Mohun Bagan’s draw on Saturday. Owen Coyle’s side stayed second with 12 points from five games, a point behind Bagan.NorthEast, on the other hand, jumped three rungs to seventh on the table, with their first victory and six points from five matches.Coyle did not have his creative midfielder Madih Talal, who had made a big contribution in their performances so far, due to an injury. Yet, Jamshedpur enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and looked to be in control compared to NEUFC, who depended more on counterattacks to find a breakthrough.The best chance in the opening half fell to the visitors when Messi Bouli failed to get his head to a cross in front of goal from Mohammed Sanan.With the score goalless at change of ends, it was a little after the break that NEUFC won a free-kick around 25 yards from the box and Rodriguez bounced in a brilliant shot into the right corner, away from the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Albino Gomes.A foul on Bouli earned Jamshedpur a penalty in the 68th minute and the Cameroonian sent goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh the other way to draw level.However, the joy of the equaliser was short lived as the ball fell in the way of Rodriguez during an NEUFC run near the box and he sent in a volley to give his team the lead again.Jamshedpur pressed hard for the equaliser, but it was not to be as they endured their first loss of the season.
