Chennaiyin FC register 1-0 win against NorthEast FC
The defending champions of Indian Super League, Chennaiyin FC finally crushed NorthEast United FC in a hard fought match by 1-0 here at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, in Guwahati on Thursday.
Chennaiyin FC has also broken the Guwahati jinx with this win as the team in the previous seasons of ISL neither scored a goal nor the team had secured a point at the stadium. Even the team had also failed to register a win on NorthEast United FC in its last four attempts.
The fiery goal by Davide Succi in the 49th minute changed the face of the entire game and it made all the difference as NortEast United FC players had to struggle till the last moment to level the lead. However, NorthEast players failed and Chennaiyin FC emerged as victorious in the game.
If we look at the pointer table, we will find that this loss has not affected the host much as the NorthEast United FC is still dominating the table and Chennaiyin FC has jumped to the third place with seven points from four matches. However, the equation could change if Mumbai City FC, Delhi Dynamos and Atletico de Kolkata win their next round match.
Since the first session, Chennaiyin players played the aggressive game but failed to score any goal, the goal moment came for the team when the Italian striker Succi hit the goal in the 49th minute which ultimately emerged as the winning goal.
Succi astonished everyone by taking the cross from Siam Hangel which seemed like any other normal delivery inside the box. After Succi kicked the ball, it flew like a rocket and goalkeeper Subrata Paul could do nothing despite getting his hand to the ball. Prior to this, Coach Marco Materazzi’s decision to leave marquee player John Arne Riise on the bench was the major talking point.
Bernard Mendy never made anyone feel the absence of Riise and his fine tackle to Emiliano Alfaro inside the danger zone grabbed the several eyeballs of the spectators. NorthEast United FC’s performance was not up to the mark as the team failed to dictate terms during most part of the match. Team’s main striker, Emiliano Alfaro lacked the cutting edge and Chennaiyin players utilized this opportunity in the best possible way. This was the first defeat of NortEast United FC in the tournament after their 2 consecutive victories.
Hans Mulder and Maurizio Peluso missed the goalpost two times closely in the first 45 minutes otherwise Chennaiyin FC would have opened their goal account within the first half of the match.
