North East United FC and Pune City FC will clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Guwahati this Wednesday. The former is on the brink of qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in the 5 years history of the ISL and a victory in this match will get them closer to achieving that dream. A resurgent Pune City FC is only playing for their pride and will hope to win as many of their remaining three matches in the league in the hope of directly qualifying for the Super Cup.

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North East United FC

Eelco Schattorie’s team has had their best tournament this season and are on the brink of qualifying for the playoffs for the first time. They are placed third in the league table with Mumbai City breathing down their necks. North East United had a problem with their defence and an injury to their centre back Mislav Komorski did not help matters. They have signed the Colombian, Janeiler Rivas Palacios to replace the back. In their victory over Mumbai City FC recently, both their midfield wingers had a good match with Rowllin Borges opening the scoring. They will look to Bartholomew Ogbeche and their recent signing Panagiotis Triadis to score goals for them in this match.

Pune City FC

Pune City FC has had a very good run in the second half of the league. They have played brilliantly since Pradhyum Reddy and the Phil Brown took over the reins collecting 13 of their 18 points in the last five matches. The tormentor-in-chief for their last match against Jamshedpur FC whom they beat 4-1, and scored a goal himself is suspended for this match. However, Robin Singh who scored two goals and Iain Hume who assisted in two will be there in their starting line-up. Three of their four goals came off counter attacks with all the forwards combining well and assisting each other. Phil Brown will want the Stallions to maintain the same tempo against the Highlanders.

Head to head

North East FC Utd and Pune City Fc have competed nine times against each other in the ISL. Each of them has won four times with one match ending in a draw. But North East Utd has got the better of Pune City FC when they met earlier in the season in November.

Current form of the two teams

Noth East Utd has had mixed for in this half of the season having won, drawn and lost two matches each in their last six matches. Pune City FC has shown spectacular form by not conceding a match in their last five games as well as winning four of their matches of the last six. Both the teams are going into the match with a win behind them.

Prediction

Pune City has displayed some attacking football in the second half of the season. They have been particularly effective in their counter-attacks in the last five matches. Though North East Utd have played well, they have had a problem with their defence of late. I will go for Pune to win the match on their form. Score: North East Utd 1-2 Pune City