Chennaiyin FC and NorthEast United meet for the first time in ISL this season.
After suffering a 3-2 defeat against FC Goa last week, Chenniayin FC will take on NorthEast United at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at home. Facing the side led by Head Coach John Gregory, the home side needs to win the game to boost their morale.
For NorthEast United, who started their campaign with a 0-0 draw against newcomers Jamshedpur FC, it could all be about sustaining the attacking force of Chennai which includes the likes of Jeje Lalpekjlua and Mohammed Rafi. The visitors will hope to maintain their unbeaten record at the venue, but it may prove to be tougher this season.
Chennaiyin FC starting XI: Karanjit Singh; Inigo Calderon, Henrique Sereno, Mailson Alves, Jerry Lalrinzuala; Dhanpal Ganesh, Bikramjit Singh, Francisco Fernandes, Rapahel Augusto, Gregory Nelson; Jeje Lalpekhlua.
NorthEast United FC starting XI: Rehenesh; Nirmal Chhetri, Jose Julio Goncalves, Abdul Hakku Nediyodath, Robert Lalthlamuana; Odair Fortes, Marcinho, Adilson Goiano, Didika, Seiminlen Doungel; Danilo Cezario.
A brilliant, brilliant chance for the hosts to lead this game. Gregory Nelson with some excellent work down the left side. He skips past his man using his pace and crosses it in with his left. Francisco Fernandes is on the end of this and he rises to meet it with his head 3 yards out. Tries keeping it down on the ground when he should have aimed straight at goal. In that attempt, the ball hits the ground and bounces over the crossbar. Surely should have scored.
Unlucky for Hakku, but @ChennaiyinFC won't mind that!#LetsFootball #CHENEU pic.twitter.com/GA91ZkkXX2
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 23, 2017
A defensive blunder from Abdul Hakku, but the hosts’ electric start to the game probably deserves this. Raphael Augusto cuts inside from the left and upon seeing the space available to him, continues coming in. Is just outside the box so he has a shy at goal. Abdul Hakku, the NorthEast defender, looks to head it away but is in no control of that. Directs it straight past his keeper and into the goal.
Chennaiyin FC rightly further their lead. Were threatening since the start of the game, got the opener and now have their 2-goal cushion. Bikramjit Singh starts this off with a diagonal into Gregory Nelson who makes a run behind the right back into the box.
"I got this!" says Rafi! #LetsFootball #CHENEU pic.twitter.com/SR9mMvV0Iz
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 23, 2017
Danilo Lopes with a long range effort from almost 30 yards out down the middle. It doesn’t have any kind of power on it though and it’s hit right at the keeper who collects it with utmost ease.
Marcinho the left footer stands over this, lines it up and fires one to curl it inside the top right corner. It goes inches over the crossbar, beating the keeper as well. Not too far off, that. Had good power and decent accuracy too.
Quick to pounce was Mohammed Rafi! #LetsFootball #CHENEU pic.twitter.com/A30s1fFBh7
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 23, 2017
Jaime Gavilan stands on top of this free kick just outside the box. Nirmal Chettri has a little dig at Gregory Nelson from behind as he’s brought down. Gavilan has his eye on goal, curls it and hits the crossbar. It hits the diving keeper on the back of his head as he dives to his right and Mohammed Rafi like the poacher he is, runs quickly to the ball and heads it in. He celebrates gesturing it’s child’s play and with that, ends any kind of hope NorthEast United FC might have had of coming back into this game. 3-0 Chennaiyin FC!
A comfortable win for Chennaiyin FC. They made life easy for themselves in the first half itself with those two goals. That was half the job done. In the second 45, they neutralized the early onslaught from NorthEast United FC and deep into the second half, scored the third which took the fizz right out of them.
ATTACK INDEX:
Chennaiyin FC NorthEast United FC
49.0% Ball Possession 51.0%
3 Goals 0
5 Shots On Target 4
16 Fouls 23
5 Corner Kicks 3
FULL TIME: Chennaiyin FC (3-0) NorthEast United
Hero of the Match: Raphael Augusto
Fittest Player of the Match: Francisco Fernandes
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