Kerala Blasters FC will play their last game of the ISL when they take on North East Utd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday. Although the outcome of the match will not affect Kerala Blasters place in the table, a win here will help North East Utd vault over Mumbai FC to the third place.

Kerala Blasters FC

Nelo Vingada will be fielding a team against his ex-employers when the Kerala Blasters take on North East Utd. Kerala Blasters have had a dismal season after their win against ATK in the inaugural match. A run of losses saw the sacking of their coach David James. But by the time Vingada took over their chances of making it to the final were gone. They managed only one more win against Chennaiyin FC, which is the side placed last in the league table, and their 14 points after 17 games are the reason they are placed second last in the league table. Matej Poplatnik, Slavisa Stojanovic (4 goals each), and the midfielder, Sahal Abdul Samad are the only players who have impressed during the season.

North East United FC

Eelco Shattorie’s North East United will be buoyed by the fact that they have qualified for the semi-finals for the first time in five years. Moreover, they will want to go into the playoffs with a victory behind them. Bartholomew Ogbeche, the second highest goal scorer in the league has been their main goal scorer this year which has led them to the fourth place with 28 points in 17 matches. He and Federico Gallego will be looking to pounce on the slightest errors that the Kerala Blasters four men defence commit.

Head to head

The two teams have played against each other 9 times in the ISL so far. While Kerala Blasters have won five of those matches North East Utd has won three. Only one match between the two has ended in a goalless draw.

Current form of the two teams

Kerala Blasters FC has three losses and two draws in their last six matches while they have won only one match against Chennaiyin FC. North East Utd Fc have two wins, two draws and two losses in their hast six matches. While North East are going into this match with two draws and a win behind them. Kerala Blasters have a win a draw and a loss in their last three games.

Prediction

North East has looked a much better side this season because of their improved goal scoring capability. Kerala Blasters' defence will have a torrid time in keeping Ogbeche and Gallego at bay for 90 minutes. I think that the North East Utd will win the game comfortably.

Score: Kerala Blasters 1-2 North East Utd