Two goals in the first half sealed the deal for Chennaiyin FC as the defending champions clinched their first victory this season. In a repeat of last year’s final, the game was never really close as Chennaiyin dominated from the get go and had a touch of good fortune to hand them, what was in the end, a comfortable 2-0 home win.
The win helps get Chennaiyin’s campaign off and running as they climb to 5th place on the table after having won, lost and drawn one each of their three games. While Marco Materazzi’s men finally showed signs of quality, Zico and his men are in uncharted territories.
Goa, who qualified for the semi-finals in each of the last two editions are the only team yet to score a point as they succumbed to their third loss in as many games. And at time looked completely out of sorts.
Here are the five biggest talking points from the game:
#1 Materazzi’s changes work wonders
The Italian had to take some tough calls after getting only one point from their opening two games. And he certainly didn’t shy away from the task on hand. The changes were visible when the team sheet came out, it certainly reflected what he felt about their 1-3 drubbing against Delhi Dynamos last time around.
The team saw skipper Bernard Mendy and keeper Duwayne Kerr dropped after having a nightmare against Delhi last time round. There was also no place fro Jeje Lalpekhlua in the side. The change in goalkeeper, in fact, proved vital as with keeper Karanjit Singh in between the sticks, Materazzi was able to field a trio of foreigners in the middle of the pitch.
The impressive Raphael Augusto and Hans Mulder had Manuel Blasi alongside them who played in a much deeper role to let the others express themselves going forward. The three dominated the middle of the pitch and were instrumental in handing Chennai their first three points of the season.
#2 FC Goa toothless up front
FC Goa look a totally different team from the one that went to the final last time round. Zico's team enthralled crowds across the country with their flair and attacking play last season. In 14 games in the regular season, Goa scored a whopping 29 goals en route to a table-topping haul of 25 points.
A year on and the team looks a pale shadow of itself. Joffre alongside Reinaldo looked isolated up front whilst the midfield didn’t have enough zeal about itself to win the second balls and provide the forwards with enough service.
And this game was a perfect example of what’s ailing the side. The team looked clueless going forwards and seemed to run out of ideas in the final third time and again. In 270 minutes of football, the Goa side has scored once and that number is not going to go up substantially if Zico doesn’t ring in changes soon.
This lack of movement forward is in fact also putting undue pressure on the backline as well.
#3 Jerry Lalrinzuala comes of age
A young Indian rubbing shoulder with the best in the ISL is always a welcome sight. And today we were treated with the spectacle of 18-year-old Jerry Lalrinzuala going toe to toe with everything Goa had to offer and coming up trumps.
The left-back position has been a spot of bother for Marco Materazzi after Dhanachandra Singh picked up an injury even before the season started. The first game saw Sameehg Doutie run riot on that side of the field for Atletico de Kolkata while Marcelinho wreaked havoc for Delhi in their previous game.
Many thought this level might have been a little too much and too soon for Jerry especially after giving away a penalty in the first game at Kolkata. However, in today’s game, his composure was beyond his years as he thwarted anything that came down the Goa right.
In a season that was beginning to look a bit worrisome for the Super Machans, the coming of age of the youngster is certainly a pleasant surprise.
#4 Goa have failed to replace Jonatan Lucca and Leo Moura
If there was any question regarding the same, they seem to have been answered today. At the heart of FC Goa’s sumptuous play last season was the midfield trio of Jonatan Lucca, Leo Moura and Joffre.
Whilst Joffre is still with the Goan outfit, Zico and co. failed to retain the Brazilian pair have moved on. Their intricate play not only helped FC Goa dominate the proceeding in the midfield last season but also bring the best out of the rest. The likes of Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Rao Desai came to the fore last season with Reinaldo also scoring goals by the handful up front.
However, this time round, Goa seem to be lacking that dynamic. There seems to be a clear disjoint at the centre of the pitch with a huge gap between the front line and the rest of the team as they clearly miss someone who would like to sit back in midfield and dictate play.
Goa are in serious danger of being cut adrift in this early phase of the season and Zico has to find an answer to his midfield crisis and soon.
#5 Raphael Augusto shows his worth
Whilst Hans Mulder might have walked away with the Man of the Match award owing to his stunning strike, it was Raphael Augusto whose brilliant touches on the ball coupled with tenacious work around the field, that made his teammates’ life much easier.
While Blasi held the fort at the back and Hans Mulder ran at Goa defence time and again, it was Augusto's stout frame in the middle that seemed to glue everything together.
Even in the first couple games which saw Chennaiyin get only a single point, one man was able to strut his stuff, i.e.Raphael Augusto. And with help from the inclusion of Blasi, the Brazilian exploded onto the scene in this one.
The Brazilian was the star of the midfield as he linked the two sides of the team together with some delightful touches, fierce tackles and exquisite passes. If Chennaiyin have aspirations of going up the table, they need to give Augusto both the ball as well as able support.
