AFC Cup 2019: Chennaiyin FC vs Abahani Limited Dhaka - 5 Talking Points

Chennaiyin FC finished their home campaign in Group E of the 2019 AFC Cup on a successful note after a 1-0 win over Bangladeshi outfit Abahani Limited Dhaka saw them go top of the group with 7 points to their name.

Coming into this match Chennaiyin were level with Dhaka on four points, but Tuesday's win now gives them a three-point lead at the top.

The only goal of the game came in the 79th minute as Anirudh Thapa scored with a deflected effort in what was otherwise a game of few clear-cut chances for either side.

Chennaiyin took to the field with one change to their starting XI from their last match against Manang Marshyangdi - Dhanapal Ganesh coming in for Germapreet Singh. However they quickly found themselves having to adjust after they lost midfielder Chris Herd to injury midway through the first half.

Dhaka started the better of the two teams. They dominated the opening 20 minutes of the game, constantly putting the Chennaiyin defence under pressure and creating many good openings in attack.

But the Bangladeshi team were unable to make the dominance count and in the second half, Chennaiyin played with better tempo and slowly took control of the game. They eventually got the goal in the 79th after which they had to withstand some pressure to see out the game.

Here were the things that stood out from the game.

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#1 This time CFC miss Raphael

For the second game in a row, Chennaiyin were without their midfield dynamo, Brazilian Raphael Augusto, who sat out with a knee complaint. Against Manang Marshyangdi in the previous game, it wasn’t an issue as they managed to get a 2-0 victory over the Nepali side. But on Tuesday, his absence was sorely felt.

Chennaiyin’s industrious midfield of Anirudh Thapa, Dhanapal Ganesh and Chris Herd wasn’t able to generate any forward momentum for the team, especially with Ganesh and Herd both being defensively inclined players.

The opponents, unlike those previous, also weren't content to just sit back and defend, making it a point to press the home side relentlessly and counter at pace.

Chris Herd’s injury midway through the opening half caused a further rejigging with Germanpreet Singh coming on and it wasn’t until the second half that they were able to wrestle some sort of control from their Bangladeshi visitors.

The injury statuses of Augusto and Herd are likely to impact Chennaiyin's chances in the matches ahead.

#2 A moment of brilliance

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Thapa’s goal was a deflected one, there’s no doubt about that. He was intending to cross the ball for CK Vineeth who was waiting at the far post.

But that shouldn’t take away from what came before the goal – a moment of inventiveness from Thapa as he chested down the ball inside the box, saw no options, went on to complete a swift turn that left his defender for dead to create that bit of space.

It was the moment of invention that the game had been calling out for as until then Chennaiyin had been largely pedestrian in the attacking third.

If you’re wondering why Thapa was receiving the ball wide on the left inside the box in the first place, it had to do with a tactical change employed just a few minutes prior. John Gregory had introduced Isaac Vanmalsawma to play in midfield as the passing mid and pushed Thapa out wide on the left in an attempt to gain more traction in attack.

Without Augusto, the onus is largely on Thapa to create for this side. Gregory might need to unearth options to help out his young star if Chennaiyin aspire to get past stiffer tests in future.

#3 Missile long throws

Chennaiyin's defence held up well against some good pressure

Abahani Dhaka played a 4-2-3-1 formation with Wellington Priori, a midfielder, operating as centre-back. Former Kerala Blasters and Jamshedpur FC man Kervens Belfort took the wide left position behind the striker, Sunday Chizobe, who arrived on matchday after sorting out his visa issues.

While their on-ground passing game was quite good and they did indeed cause Chennaiyin much trouble with their speedy attacks, their long throws proved to be quite the go-to-option on more than one occasion.

This reporter can recount about 8 instances in this match where Dhaka resorted to the long throw when a throw-in was at hand close to the 18-yard-box. And they really did threaten with these set-pieces, the Chennaiyin defenders having to be on high alert to anticipate knock-ons and loose balls.

While they certainly did create a flutter on a few occasions, no clear cut chances materialized, they did put their opponents under a lot of pressure with it.

#4 Another clean sheet

Karanjit Singh

Among the major shortcomings of John Gregory’s side during the domestic Indian Super League run was their defensive frailties.

But their late season resurgence has been fueled in part by solid showings at the back with Brazilian centre-back duo Mailson Alves and Eli Sabia forming a stubborn combo at the back.

As mentioned earlier, Dhaka’s use of the long throws required timely interceptions and marking from the Chennaiyin defence.

Goalkeeper Karanjit Singh, culpable a fair few number of times this season for some of the goals conceded, and not know as the strongest of keepers aerially, produced an assured performance as well, expertly dealing with crosses and long balls that managed to get through his defensive four in front of him.

The shutout means Gregory's team are yet to concede a goal in the AFC Cup this season; it also marks a run of 8 clean sheets now in their last 11 outings.

#5 Subs do the trick for a team that looked woefully short going forward

Some of the variations tried by the Englishman didn’t pay off

The veteran pairing of Jeje Lalpekhlua and Mohammed Rafi were once again entrusted with leading the attacking line by Gregory.

However, some of the variations tried by the Englishman didn’t pay off. With a distinct lack of wingers in the team, Gregory used Rafi, a centre-forward in the traditional mould, wide on the left, away from the goalmouth.

Thoi Singh meanwhile on the right has shown all season that the pace and legs he brings to the side are quickly undone by his lack of a final ball and composure on it, be it for a finish or in the case of going past a defender.

The second half substitutions by Gregory are what changed the game and opened things up for Chennaiyin.

CK Vineeth was first brought on for Jeje and Isaac then replaced Rafi. With the new introductions, Vineeth played through the middle, Thapa moving out left to support him and perform the role of a winger, while Thoi took the right flank.

Isaac dropped into space behind the front three to play pocket passes and link up play and recycle possession. This gave the team a better look and a better shape to try and open up the Dhaka defence.

With the home slate now wiped clean, Chennaiyin will travel away to Bangladesh first, and then late to Minerva Punjab and then Nepal on the final matchday.