ISL Thriller: NorthEast Beats Jamshedpur 2-1 on Rodriguez Brace

A tale of second-half redemption unfolded at Guwahati’s Indira Gandhi Stadium as NorthEast United FC overcame Jamshedpur FC 2-1, courtesy of Andy Rodriguez’s lethal double. This Sunday showdown marked the Highlanders’ first win in ISL 2025-26, injecting fresh momentum into their campaign.

Early exchanges were cagey, with possession dominant but penetration lacking. Gomes’ bold clearance in the 13th minute saved Jamshedpur, while Boulie’s 19th-minute header from Sanan’s delivery kissed the side netting. Nixon tested from afar, met with a safe pair of hands.

Gogoi’s electric pace troubled Chaudhary in the 27th, earning a free-kick. Zabaco’s injury exit saw Akhtar enter before the break, where Meitei’s header off Rodriguez’s corner proved just too high.

The game ignited at the 53rd minute: Rodriguez’s curling free-kick masterpiece found the net’s bottom right, electrifying the home crowd. Penalty parity came Jamshedpur’s way in the 66th after Singh’s box blunder, Boulie converting coolly at 68′ for 1-1.

Enter Rodriguez again—one minute later, his composed edge-of-box finish with the left boot restored NorthEast’s advantage at 2-1. Desperate Jamshedpur assaults followed: Boulie’s 79th-minute rocket wide, Padmanabhan blocked at 85th.

Sub Thoi Singh’s inside-box shot narrowly missed in the 89th, and Stojanovic’s injury-time hail mary drifted astray. Victory secured, NorthEast surge to seventh on six points, ending their barren run. Jamshedpur suffer a first defeat but sit pretty in second with 12. Rodriguez’s starring role netted him Player of the Match, his goals the heartbeat of this ISL gem.