Bhubaneswar, October 24 – Moroccan striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie's missed penalty in the dying moments saw NorthEast United FC settle for a goalless draw against Odisha FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) 2026/27 encounter at the Kalinga Stadium. This result on Saturday prevented the Highlanders from extending their winning streak and climbing to the top of the league table.

The decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time when referee K. Ramdasan awarded NorthEast United a penalty after Stephen Eze was judged to have handled the ball inside the box following a corner from Parthib Gogoi. Ajaraie stepped up, but his powerful effort unfortunately struck the woodwork, denying his team a dramatic late winner and a chance to go three points clear at the top.

Earlier in the match, NorthEast United had created the first significant opportunity in the fifth minute, with Nikola Ninković's shot saved by Odisha goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari. Odisha responded with Everton Nascimento's long-range attempt sailing wide. Ajaraie himself had another chance saved by Tiwari before the penalty incident.

Both teams made multiple substitutions in the second half, with Odisha bringing on Nandhakumar Sekar, Rahim Ali, and Manuel Molina, while NorthEast United introduced Parthib Gogoi, Ethyan González, Redeem Tlang, and Imran Khan, all in an effort to break the deadlock. Despite these changes and sustained pressure, especially from NorthEast United in the final minutes, the score remained unchanged, leaving both sides to share the points.

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