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Chennai City FC eked out East Bengal 2-1 at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata in an enthralling encounter. After this win, Chennai City FC further solidified their lead at the top with 10 points from four games, remaining unbeaten throughout. East Bengal, on the other hand, is just one position behind them with 6 points from three games.
Sandro Rodriguez scored for the visitors at the dying embers of the first half from a wonderfully-curling free kick. Enrique Esqueda restored the parity for the home side when he tapped in the ball at an empty net. However, Nestor Gordillo ensured that Chennai City FC had the last laugh by converting a penalty at the 82nd minute.
The Red and Golds didn't play bad either, but on the given day it was Akbar Nawaz's men who reigned supreme. So, why did the Southerners look more confident on the ball despite being the away side? Here are 3 reasons why Chennai City FC won against East Bengal.
#3 Chennai City FC's superior fluidity in the game
The Spanish style of football came to India with the advent of the Hero Indian Super League. ATK won the inaugural season using it and, FC Goa, Bengaluru FC, and Jamshedpur FC (all of them are in the top four) are employing it this year.
I-League, too, got its Spanish influence this year with Chennai City FC and East Bengal deploying their men in a 4-2-3-1 formation rather than the conventional 4-4-2. However, when both the sides play the same style of football, one of the teams' plans become futile.
Today, it was East Bengal as Akbar Nawaz's men outclassed them in possession and passing. Lalrindika Ralte and Kamalpreet Singh were forced in their defensive half more often as Sandro Rodriguez and Charles Anandraj ensured they had the leverage in the midfield.
#2 Not conceding unnecessary fouls
Despite winning the possession battle and passing the ball around confidently, Chennai City FC fumbled in the finishing and the attacking third. However, East Bengal's timely fouls ensured the visitors had plenty of chances from the set pieces.
The Southerners, on the other hand, committed very few fouls and won the ball by dispossessing them or catching them offside.
One ought to note that both the goals from Chennai City FC came through the set pieces. Lalrindika Ralte took down Sandro Rodriguez at the closing moments of the first half, and the Spaniard made no mistake in rocketing it past Rakshit Dagar.
The goalkeeper was guilty in bringing down Pravitto Raju at the 82nd minute after being brilliantly fed by a defence-splitting through ball. Nestor Gordillo stepped up and sent Rakshit the wrong way.
#1 The Indian players stood out
Chennai City FC is doing a wonderful job in producing young Indian players. Last season, they produced Michael Soosairaj, inarguably India's one of the best midfielders. This season with Akbar Nawaz at the helm and the Indian players gelling with the foreign counterparts more efficiently, we might see a handful of them stamping their mark.
Today, Edwin Vanspaul, Charles Anadraj, Romario Jesuraj, Pravitto Raju, and substitute Ameerudeen Mohaideen gave their best shot with the first name even bagging the Hero of the Match.
The East Bengal players had heavily marked the foreigners, giving them little space to breathe. However, that left the Indian players enough space and they made them repent.
Tamil Nadu has been neglected in the Indian football scene for a long time. This victory for Chennai City FC gives the state a ray of hope.
