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Chennaiyin FC built on their big win in Goa with yet another clinical away performance as they sunk Mumbai City FC 2-0 thanks to a Stiven Mendoza brace in the Hero Indian Super League game played at the Dr. D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Friday evening. Chennaiyin’s attacking trio of Mendoza, Elano and Jayesh Rane created havoc in the Mumbai City defence in the second half which ultimately led to the demise of the home side.
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Nicolas Anelka made six changes to the team which drew 0-0 in Kochi, with all three of the Indian National team players starting. Frederic Piquionne who had scored the team’s only goal this season started up front while the Tunisian midfielder Selim Benachour was included in the midfield.
On the other hand, Marco Materazzi made just one change to his side who emphatically triumphed in Goa as Bernard Mendy gave way for Alessandro Potenza at centre back.
First Half: Chances go begging
The hosts started on the front foot and won their first corner in the very first minute of the game and put Chennaiyin FC on the defensive right from the outset. But the Machans survived the early scare and slowly found their feet in the game.
They created the first real opening of the game in the 6th minute when Thoi Singh, who got booked in the second minute of the game, did well to win the ball in the midfield and set Mendoza free in the space in front of the Mumbai City FC defence. Mendoza forced a fine save from Subrata Pal diving to his right as the veteran goalkeeper palmed away Mendoza’s vicious drive.
The visitors slowly grew into the game post the 2-minute mark and were extremely unlucky not to take the lead in 26th minute when Raphael Augusto struck the upright with a shot from the edge of the box after being set up by Jayesh Rane from the left flank. A couple of minutes later, Chennaiyin FC blew up another great chance to take the lead when Mendoza latched onto a clever diagonal pass from the left side, but his poor first touch allowed Frantz Bertin to block his shooting angle as the Colombian fired wide.
Mumbai City though finished the second half strongly and a brilliant passing move from the hosts in the 42nd minute saw Frederic Piquionne release Sony Norde through on goal. But the Haitian’s shot was blocked away for a corner. Norde almost made up for the missed opportunity when his curling corner almost went in but for some alert goalkeeping by Apoula Edel Bete.
The first half ended goalless, but both sides had their moments in the game which neither could quite capitalize on.
Second Half: Mendoza and Elano reign supreme
Sony Norde was in the thick of the things on the other side of the interval too as he cut inside from the flank to create space for a shot which narrowly went wide of the target. But just as both teams were scrapping for their best form, Mumbai City gifted Chennaiyin the lead in the 60th minute when Elano stole a misplaced pass from Pratesh Shirodkar to run clear on goal but found Mendoza to be in a much better position to score.
The Brazilian selflessly set up the Colombian who tapped the pass home in the empty net to silence the home crowd.
Mumbai City FC responded almost instantly when livewire Sony Norde played a brilliant one-two with Sunil Chhetri to get into a shooting position, but couldn’t keep his shot down as the chance went begging.
There were no such problem for Mendoza at the other end who doubled Chennaiyin FC’s lead in the 66th minute when he was first to the ball after it had rebounded off the woodwork from Jayesh Rane’s curling effort after the local boy profited from a mix-up in the Mumbai City FC defence while trying to clear a lofted pass.
Chennaiyin’s hero Mendoza made way for Fikru in the 73rd minute as Marco Materazzi opted for a more direct outlet with Chennaiyin opting to sit back and shore up the defence. Mumbai, who were finding it difficult to get behind the Chennaiyin defence, managed to do so in the 82nd minute when left back Fanai ventured forward to drill a low cross near the six-yard box. But the Chennaiyin defence cleared it at full stretch as Selim Benachour’s shot from the resulting loose ball went harmlessly over.
Mumbai City pressed hard for a goal, but Chennaiyin’s resolute defence held on for the clean sheet as the Super Machans from Chennai picked up yet another away win on their road to recovery.
