Wednesday night's Indian Super League clash between Chennaiyin FC and Mumbai City FC ended in a 1-1 draw. Indian forward Jeje Lalpekhlua who gave Chennai the lead in the second half, but a late screamer from Leonardo Costa equalised it for Mumbai.
The draw takes Chennai to the fourth position on the points table, while Mumbai remain in second spot.
Also Read: ISL 2016: Chennaiyin FC vs Mumbai City FC Match Report
Mumbai City FC manager Alexandre Guimaraes and Chennaiyin FC assistant manager Sabir Pasha faced the media after the game. Chennayin manager Marco Materazzi was suspended for the match and hence was not on the touchline for the team.
Satisfied with a point, says Guimaraes
Mumbai manager Guimaraes was satisfied with the one point, considering the fact that they were trailing at one point and it was an away game. The 56-year-old was relieved that his team was able to score a late equaliser and get a draw.
Chennaiyin dominated the game and the home side created more clear cut chances and also took the lead. A moment of magic from Costa earned Mumbai a point.
Some may say that Mumbai were fortunate to get a draw out of the game, but Guimaraes didn't think so. The Costa Rican was of the opinion that it was the changes he made to the team that got them the draw.
"No, I don't think so. We made adjustments after they scored and from that moment we started to play in their own half. Of course, sometimes you get your luck with the goal. The way the game went in the first half, we knew that it was a game we cannot lose. Our game in the second half put us in a good position. We made the adjustments and and we played very well,” said Guimaraes
The Mumbai City FC continued, "The draw is a good point for us, maybe not a good point for them. After winning away in Kolkata and coming here, and getting a draw in the end against the champions, the confidence is very good and very high for my team.”
Guimaraes says the tactics changed the way Mumbai attacked
Mumbai's goalscorer Leo Costa came on as a substitute in the second half and turned out to be a star for his team. Guimaraes spoke about the impact Costa and other changes made on the game.
“We took some risks. First we put Jacki on the right side of the pitch so that we got more width. And then with Leo coming in, we had better ball play on the ground and we started to move the ball better in the middle. And then we got more deep (into their half) with Diego up front and Sony on the left. All the moves that we did helped the team to change the way we attacked,” Guimaraes explained.
Both Chennaiyin and Mumbai are in the top four of the table, and both the teams will need to up their games in the upcoming games to claim a play-offs spot.
Pasha disappointed with a draw
Chennaiyin were in the lead until the 88th minute of the match and it looked like the Super Machans would take the three points, but Leo Costa scored a goal from nowhere for Mumbai. Pasha was asked about how the Chennai players felt after they gave the lead away late in the game.
The Chennaiyin assistant manager said that the players were disappointed and also said that the team was very unlucky to have not the won the match.
"The players were really disappointed not to win after giving such a big show. They know that they deserved to have the three points. It was very unlucky for them, but I think they showed in the game that they are winners,” Pasha said.
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Chennaiyin manager Marco Materazzi was suspended for the match by the ISL committee for his actions after their match against Kerala Blasters. The team's assistant coach, Syed Sabir Pasha was forced to step into the boots of the Italian manager and manage the team on the night.
"I have been learning from Marco. I have been behind him watching. It is great that he told me to monitor this match. I am thankful to him for giving this opportunity to stand before this great stage,” Pasha told to the media.
Jeje is a great talent, says Pasha
Chennai striker Jeje added a goal to his tally after he headed home a Maurizio Peluso cross in the 50th minute of the game. The 25-year-old put in a man of the match performance on the night and Pasha was full of praise for the Indian. He also praised Materazzi for using Jeje in the right way.
"Jeje is a great talent. He is a big talent which India is having. Marco is using him a great way. He knows when to put him and when to get the best out of him. Whenever Marco fields him, we see that he performs. That is the talent of the coach. That is the talent of the player,” the Chennai assistant manager said.
Sportskeeda was able to catch up with Jeje after the game. "It is always good to score because I am a striker and my work is to score goals, but today the result could have been better. We fought hard, but we need to get better for the next match,” the Indian striker said.
