Chennaiyin FC hosted a match against FC Pune City and the hosts wanted a win to stay in the tournament. FC Pune City recently found the lost vigor and the team was on its way to regaining the top spot in the tournament.
Chennaiyin FC, the defending champions finally put an end to their five-match winless streak and gave the crowd bang for every buck by winning the match against FC Pune City.
The game looked dull during the initial stage of the match as both the teams were content with keeping the ball in the midfield and they lacked the zeal needed to make the ball feel the warmth of the nets.
After 20 minutes into the match, the teams realised that they need to score a goal for preventing this match from a draw as both the teams needed a win in order to see themselves in the Semi-Finals.
Chennaiyin FC was the first team to opt for attacking and in the 23rd minute, Succi got an open channel but the Brazilian overlooked it and went for glory. As a result, the ball went way high from the goalpost and the team lost a chance at taking the lead.
However, just before the referee’s half-time whistle, Bernard found an open Augusto, who played the ball towards Mulder and his footwork took him past Pune’s Eduardo Ferreira. Mulder passed it to Lalrinzuala on the overlap, and he whipped a teasing outswinger into Edel Bete’s box. Succi got a touch on the ball and it went straight to Jeje Lalpekhlua, who in turn headed the ball straight in to the goal post.
The game went into halftime with Chennaiyin FC having the upper hand.
The second half started with FC Pune City struggling to keep the opposition away from their goalpost and in the 51st minute Chennaiyin FC made the visitor’s condition more miserable.
Davide Succi the mastermind of the previous goal turned scorer this time as he headed a Raphael cross straight into the post by beating his marker Eduardo Ferreira and the goalkeeper.
For the rest of the match, FC Pune City tried to score but Chennaiyin FC was too solid with its defence and claimed a victory after five matches.
Chennaiyin FC has kept their hopes alive for semi-finals and while Pune should be considered about chances of qualification. However, the latter is just one point behind the defending champions in ISL 2016 League tally.
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16 November 2016
Rohan Jaitly