Chennaiyin FC 0-3 Northeast United FC Highlights, Indian Super League: Highlanders Through To Playoffs For First Time In Four Seasons

The Indian Super League match will kick off at 7:30pm IST, and can be live streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. It will be live telecast on the Asianet Plus, Sports 18 Khel and Star Sports 3 TV channels in India.

Here's how the two teams line up ahead of kick-off in Chennai:

The two teams have played 21 games against each other, with Chennaiyin FC and NorthEast United FC winning nine and seven matches respectively. Five encounters have produced draws.

The first half is underway in Chennai, with Chennaiyin attacking from right to left, and NorthEast United from left to right. The Highlanders have a chance straight away in the first few seconds, but are unable to find a finishing touch from midfielder Nestor Albiach in front of goal.

Nestor Albiach makes amends for his early miss, and how. The 32-year-old Spaniard unleashes a stunning strike from his left foot from well outside the box to beat Chennaiyin goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz to his left. NorthEast United go ahead in the seventh minute.

Halfway through the first half, and the typical Chennai humidity seems to be sapping the players already as they take sips of water in a mini break. Reminder that a win tonight will seal Highlanders' spot in the playoffs, while the Marina Machans are out of reckoning.

Used to assisting his teammates, Jithin Madathil Subran has a goal to his name in the 26th minute. Alaaeddine Ajaraie delivers the assist and Jithin's right-footed shot from outside the box heads into the bottom left corner. The Highlanders double their lead and are well and truly on top now.

Alaaeddine Ajaraie scores! The Moroccan forward continues to deliver for NorthEast United, scoring his 21st goal in the league this season. He takes aim from his left foot from the centre of the box and finds the top right corner of goal. The Highlanders are 3-0 ahead in the 38th minute and now on the verge of securing a playoffs berth.

The half-time whistle is heard, much to the relief of Owen Coyle and Chennaiyin. Already out of the competition, the Marina Machans do not seem as switched on as they could and should be at home and the Highlanders are capitalizing. Can the hosts spark a turnaround in the second half? Stay with us to find out.

The players are back and running after the mid-game interval. Surely, Chennaiyin need an early goal in the second half if they are to make a match of this. As for NorthEast United, they would be looking to add to the Machans' woes but the current scoreline would do nicely as well, in terms of qualifying for the playoffs.

The Marina Machans now beginning to string together some genuine chances, though they don't have anything to show for them yet. Vignesh Dakshinamurthy shoots too high in the 64th minute, and Ryan Edwards' header in the 63rd is blocked. The Highlanders have this in the bag, unless something miraculous happens in the next half hour.

The hosts' woes compound as their skipper Ryan Edwards gets a second yellow card for a rough challenge, and is sent off in the 81st minute. Chennaiyin are down to 10 men with around 10 minutes of regulation time remaining. A turnaround appears well nigh impossible from here.

The Highlanders do not add to their three first-half goals but do not concede any either to end the match with a resounding 3-0 away victory in Chennai. The inspired performance seals NorthEast United's playoffs berth, their first in four seasons.