ISL: Chennaiyin FC crash to first home defeat, FC Goa qualify for semi-finals
Chennaiyin FC were dealt their first home loss of this ISL season after FC Goa ran out comprehensive 3-1 winners at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. It was a game in which Chennai will rue their play in the final third, and one also in which Chennai conceded three rather cheap goals.
Zico chose not to tinker with a successful combination, while Marco Materazzi made three changes to his Chennai side. Bruno Pelissari, Jayesh Rane and Shilton Paul replaced Dhanachandra Singh, Balwant Singh and Gennaro Bracigliano respectively. The changes meant that Harmanjot Khabra started at left back, further proving his credentials as an excellent utility player.
Chennaiyin started well at first
Chennai made the early running as some slick passing down the right flank set Pelissari up for a left-footed shot which was rather comfortably saved by the Goa custodian Jan Seda. In the 6th minute, a brilliant touch from Cristian Hidalgo in a rather crowded midfield area released the Spaniard himself, whose right footed shot was saved by Seda again.
Gregory Arnolin was next to threaten, but he shot high, after Chennai failed to effectively clear a Bruno Pinheiro free kick. The free kick was as a result of a wild challenge from Bernard Mendy on Andre Santos. The decision wasn't liked by the Frenchman and he made his displeasure known in no uncertain terms. In the argument that followed, the referee Baldomero Toledo booked both Mendy and Hidalgo.
At the other end, Chennai went on the attack immediately after and a mazy run from Jairo Suarez drew a foul from Bikramjit Singh on the edge of the area, but Pelissari put the free kick over the bar.
Goa capitalise on defensive lapses
A few minutes later, a moment of inspiration from Mandar Rao Desai put Goa ahead. He thudded a shot from 35 yards out onto the crossbar, and the rebound was not cleared by Chennai. It fell to the feet of Romeo Fernandes who gleefully accepted the invitation to put Goa ahead. It was a goal the visitors really needed after a rather slow start in which they were put under severe pressure by Chennai.
But, after the goal, normal service resumed as Chennai kept possession and were really incisive with their passing. In the first half hour, their play in the final third was letting Chennai down. Goa then came inches close to doubling their lead. Andre Santos swung in a free kick that Shilton missed and was thankful to see hit the post.
Redemption, however, was not far away for Santos, as he latched on to a pass from Miroslav Slepicka to calmly slot home past Shilton. As the first half drew to an end, Chennai had a couple of more chances to put decent balls into the box, but like the rest of the half, the final ball let them down. It was a first half which typified smash and grab, and Zico wouldn't have complained.
Chennaiyin forced to make changes in the second half
Chennai reacted to going two goals down at half time and brought on Balwant Singh in place of Jayesh Rane. The second half began in much the same vein as the first, with Chennai calling all the shots. They were dealt a blow five minutes into the second half as Eric Djemba-Djemba was forced to go off. The Cameroonian was replaced by Bojan Djordjic, who got a huge reception from the Chennai crowd.
The next ten minutes saw a lull in the action as Goa were content to let Chennai keep the ball and absorb the pressure. That tactic worked to the dot, as Chennai were once again caught on the break. A shot from Narayan Das was palmed by Shilton into the path of Slepicka who made no mistake in putting the chance away. At 3-0 to the visitors, it looked like the game was done and dusted, unless Chennai could conjure a miracle.
Late consolation goal for Chennaiyin, Goa qualify for the semis
The miracle could have been started by Balwant, but he put his header wide, after an inch perfect cross from Silvestre. The rest of the game saw Goa see it out professionally, as Chennai began to rush their build-up play in search of that elusive goal. It was just not proving to be Chennai's day, as late on, a neat pass from Khabra picked out Balwant, who sent his shot wide of the far post.
The large contingent of Arsenal fans who turned up at the stadium to cheer on club legend Robert Pires were left disappointed, as Zico chose not to bring on his marquee player, even for the dying moments of the game. As far as Chennai were concerned, this was a game they dominated in terms of possession and chances but they conceded three cheap goals, and their play in the final third did nothing to help their cause.
There was however a late consolation as Jean Eudes Maurice capitalised on uncertain Goa handling of a long pass from Djordjic, and slotted the ball into an empty net, as Seda was caught in no man's land. That was to be the last kick of the game, as Goa booked their spot in the semi-finals.