Mendoza recorded ISL 2015's first hattrick in Chennayin FC's 0-4 away victory over FC Goa

John Stiven Mendoza scored the first hattrick of ISL 2015 (Image source: ISL)

A hattrick by Chennai forward John Stiven Mendoza was the crowning jewel of Chennaiyin FC's 0-4 away victory over FC Goa. Elano Blumer scored the only other goal of the game although Sabeeth came pretty close towards the end as his shot almost gave FC Goa a consolation goal but as it came off the crossbar and slammed into the ground, it was unclear if the whole ball crossed the line but referees decided that it did not.

Chennai Coach, Marco Materazzi made four alterations for this match, eager to get a positive result. On the other hand, Zico named an unchanged lineup for Goa. The away side went all guns blazing from the first minute.

Thoi whipped in a dangerous cross from the right wing but Lucio was there to clear the danger. Chennai’s positive approach almost paid dividends in the third minute. Elano sent in an exquisite through ball to Jayesh, but his feeble shot went straight into keeper, Andrade’s hands. The home side looked laboured in the opening minutes and were pegged back inside their own half for quite some time.

Minutes later, Khabra let loose from 30 yards out. Andrade did well to flick it over for a corner. Chennai were finally rewarded in the ninth minute. Even Zico saw that coming. Brazilian, Elano found Mendoza with a vintage defense splitting pass. The Colombian’s weak effort was spilled by the keeper who tried to make emends. But the striker pounced on the loose ball to place it in from two yards out. Materazzi’s men should have been a couple of goals up within the first fifteen minutes.

Goa should have leveled the game in the 18th minute. Moura released Keenan on the left wing who found himself one on one with the keeper. His shot went straight at Edel who did well to come off the line and thwart the effort. Goa have always been reliant on their wingers, Mandar and Romeo. But they were pretty sluggish in the first half, hardly getting a sniff of the ball.

As half time approached, Chennai looked the likelier to score the second goal. For all his efforts, Lúcio found himself out of position and the away side made most of it to double the lead. Thoi stole the ball from Roy deep inside the Goan half. His slid it to Jayesh who squared it off to Elano. The Brazilian found himself completely free and placed it into the net.

It gave the visitors a commanding lead as they went in for half-time.

Bikramjit Singh entered the game to provide some much-needed stability in midfield for Goa. Chennai almost went 3-0 up immediately. The Goan defense was split open from the right wing. A well targeted low cross found Elano in the centre. His stinging shot was blocked well with the feet by keeper, Andrade. Mendoza’s involvement always gives Chennai a more exciting feel to their game. He regularly found himself in good positions and used his pace well to drive his team's attack.

Just like the first half, the home side conceded possession cheaply on several occasions. But they were denied a stonewall penalty in the 58th minute when Jofre was smacked from behind by Ralte inside the box.

That moment clearly affected the home side. Minutes later, Elano danced past three players and slid a classy pass to Mendoza on the right wing. The Colombian chipped the ball over the onrushing keeper to make it 3-0 to Chennai. Much as the spotlight was on Chennai’s attack, their back four looked solid throughout the match, closing down the spaces consistently.

Mendoza scored the 1st hat trick of this season’s ISL in the 75th minute. Bruno Pelissari’s floater from the right wing found the winger inside the box. He had time to chest the ball down and smacked it with his left foot to give his side an unassailable 4-0 lead.

Goa clearly looked drained out and devoid of ideas in the second half. To make matters worse, they were denied what seemed like a goal. Sabeeth unleashed a belter with his left foot which hit the inside of the cross bar and appeared to have landed over the goal line and then back out.

The game ended 4-0 to Chennai and gave coach, Materazzi his first win of the season. Zico will have to go back to the drawing board and assess how his team was opened up so easily.