NorthEast United FC announce Vingada as head coach

John Abraham owned NorthEast United FC today announced that they have roped in former Portugal National Team Manager, Nelo Vingada, as their head coach for the third edition of the Indian Super League.
Vingada, who is popularly known as 'The Professor', has led the Portugal under-20 team to finish third in the FIFA under-20 World Cup and earlier winning it twice along with acclaimed Manager Carlos Queiroz.
The team hopes that Vingada's international experience and tutelage will help them to claim their stake in the upcoming season.
Commenting on the appointment, Abraham said: "I welcome Nelo Vingada as the new Head Coach of NEUFC. The team looks forward to learning from his tremendous leadership skills and the strategic acumen. His international experience makes him the most suitable coach to nurture and lead the team."

Vingada holds a unique distinction of leading Egyptian side Zamalek FC to the title without losing a single game in the season and is now hoping to do the same with the young talent of NEUFC.
"John Abraham and I have the same outlook on the game and the team. We want to bring in more talent that will be professional and willing to learn and evolve into better players. The club currently has talented players and I aim to train the team and bring a good balance between each player." Vingada said.

"This season we hope to see better results for NEUFC. I think that I am a Coach who respects the man behind the player. Working with the talented Indian boys is an exciting prospect for me. The players we will now bring in will complement the existing squad," he added.

NorthEast were beginning to grow into the game but were
set back in the 34th minute when Mehrajuddin Wadoo produced a quality cross from the right on the overlap. Dudu got the better of his marker Didier Zokora at the near post to head Wadoo's cross into the back of the net and make it 1-0 to Chennaiyin.
NorthEast were not behind for too long though thanks to some individual brilliance by Velez. The Argentine picked up the ball a few yards from the penalty area in the 38th minute before running at Chennaiyin defence and finishing with aplomb past a helpless Karanjit to restore parity.

Succi had a header on goal for the Chennaiyin two minutes later but Paul saved comfortably. The NorthEast custodian had no chance in first half stoppage time, however, when a low cross by Jerry Lalrinzuala from the left was expertly converted with an angled left-footed finish by Dudu at the near post to make it 2-1 for Chennaiyin at half-time.
The visitors got back on level terms again six minutes into the second period when a half-clearance found its way to Velez on the edge of the box. Velez hit the ball first-time and beat Karanjit in goal to make it 2-2 and silence the home support.

Both sides kept probing the opposition defences in search of the winner with the match becoming increasingly stretched as the second half wore on. NorthEast suffered a huge blow in terms of personnel in the 77th minute when Paul had to be replaced by T P Rehenesh in goal after picking up an injury.
Things went further south for NorthEast four minutes later when Dudu completed his hat-trick to become the only player to score a hat-trick for two different teams. A low cross from the right by substitute Bernard Mendy was somehow bundled into goal by the Nigerian at the near post again, making it 3-2 with a little under 10 minutes of normal time remaining.

Chennaiyin's heartbreaking moment came at the fag end of the match with Shouvik Ghosh jumping highest to connect a Velez corner from the left into the net.