Chennai: After two goalless matches in the fourth edition of the Indian Super League, FC Goa scored three in the space of 14 first-half minutes to beat Chennaiyin 3-2 here on Sunday. After not having a shot on target before the break, the home side fought back in the second to lend respectability to the scoreline.
It was Goa all the way in the first half as they enjoyed the lion’s share of possession. Such style was only on the expected lines as the visiting team’s coach and three players in the starting XI were Spanish. Midfielders Eduardo Pelaez and Brandon Fernandes were brilliant in orchestrating attacks. Chennaiyin’s defence, on the other hand, was in total disarray. And it was not surprising to find them struggle hard to string passes together.
The first goal of Season Four was conceived near the half-way line. After stealing the ball from Jerry Larinzuala inside his own half, Spain’s Ferran Telechea exchanged passes with Fernandes before coolly slotting the ball past goalkeeper Karanjit Singh into the bottom right corner. Dhanachandra Singh was the only defender behind the ball as Chennaiyin left acres of space for Goa to exploit. Coach John Gregory’s 3-5-2 formation left gaping holes in defence.
Hardly four minutes had gone by before Goa doubled the lead. Karanjit showed great alacrity to save the first two shots but a cheeky left-footed volley from Spaniard Manuel Lanzarote steered the ball past the goal line. Although Lanzarote deserved encomiums for his fine effort, it must be said that Chennaiyin defence didn’t cover itself in glory.
The evening turned nightmarish for the hosts when Mandar Rao Dessai made it 3-0 from the left after being released by Lanzarote. There was no Chennaiyin defender in the vicinity of Dessai.
The introduction of Dutch midfielder Gregory Nelson for Slovenian Rene Mihelic for the second half and a shift to 3-4-3 transformed Gregory’s team. There were a flurry of shots but the first two clear chances from Jeje Lalpekhlua and Nelson hit the post.
Chennaiyin pulled two back through a free-kick from Inigo Calderon and Raphael Augusto’s penalty. But their late rally wasn’t enough to salvage a point.
