Chennai: The 20,000-odd fans who had made it to Nehru Stadium to watch their home team on Tuesday were not left disappointed as Chennaiyin FC tasted victory in ISL-3 after a series of draws and defeats.
The importance of the 2-0 win against FC Pune City can’t be stressed enough for Chennaiyin’s play-off hopes. The result put them fifth in the table, a spot which was held by Pune ahead of Tuesday’s match.
Chennaiyin FC coach Marco Materazzi’s strategy to play Raphael Augusto up the pitch paid off as the Brazilian workhorse set up forward Davide Succi to seal the match in the 51st minute.
The Italian nodded in Augusto’s right-wing cross to the left top corner. A despairing dive by FC Pune City goalkeeper Edel Bete wasn’t enough in the end. Jeje Lalpekhlua had put Chennaiyin ahead on the stroke of half-time. The 25-year-old headed home with Bete rooted to his spot after Succi had flicked the ball to the forward from Mizoram.
Earlier, Materazzi chose to play Succi alongside Jeje in the forward line leaving out Nigerian Dudu Omagbemi who had failed to convert his chances in the previous game against Kerala. Eder Montero was back in defence as a replacement for marquee player John Arne Riise and the Brazilian did justice to his selection.
Pune bombarded Chennaiyin’s defence with long balls to their tall forward Dramane Traore. Although Traore’s height created problems for Chennaiyin’s centre-backs, a goal never came. As the halfway mark approached, both goalkeepers had really not been tested until the headed effort from Jeje. The only half chance the visitors got during the entire half was a probing cross from midfielder Jonathan Luca which was collected comfortably by Chennaiyin goalkeeper Karanjit Singh.
Goa face Mumbai
In Margao, boosted by victory over NorthEast United, FC Goa will look to keep the momentum going against Mumbai City FC on Wednesday. FC Goa did well to beat NorthEast in a must-win match, which snapped their winless streak at home. They are now looking for a repeat against Mumbai City FC whom they had beaten 1-0 in the away match.
