After going winless five games in a row, defending champions Chennaiyin FC finally got a win against Pune City on Tuesday. Goals from striker Jeje Lalpekhlua and Davide Succi sealed a 2-0 victory for the Super Machans.
The game was very one sided and Pune failed to even get a proper shot on target. Chennai manager Marco Materazzi will be hoping that his team will be able to build momentum here on.
Here are the player ratings for the game.
Chennaiyin FC
Karanjit Singh - 7/10
The Indian goalkeeper, who replaced Duwayne Kerr in the starting lineup, had a quiet game. The Pune attackers never really tested the Chennai No.1 on the night. Karanjit did well to successfully claim the crosses that were put in by the opposition. The 30-year old got his fourth clean sheet of the season.
Mehrajuddin Wadoo - 5.5/10
The whole Chennai defence was untroubled throughout the game on Tuesday. Despite not having much to do, Wadoo looked a little shaky. The full-back gave a the ball cheaply at times and didn't contribute much offensively. The crosses he put in were too easy for Pune goalkeeper Edel Bete.
Eder Montero - 6/10
Eder Montero was handed his Chennaiyin FC debut by Materazzi on the night and he didn't disappoint. The Brazilian didn't fit in well in the first half, but grew in confidence in the second. The 33-year old gave away a couple of free-kicks in the first 45 minutes of the game. However, the former Salgaocar player did well later in the game.
Bernard Mendy - 7/10
The Frenchman, who played in an attacking position in Chennai's previous match against Kerala Blasters, was brought back into defence on the night. Mendy has been in fine form and he continued it against Pune. He played a role in both of the goals scored by Chennai. The centre-back also made several diagonal balls from the back.
Jerry Lalrianzuala - 7/10
The young full-back has been very impressive for Materazzi's side this season and Tuesday was no different. Even though the player was often put under pressure by Pune's Yumnam Raju, the 18-year old was able to handle it. Lalrianzuala is improving his attacking display by each game and he played an important role in Jeje's goal by putting in a cross to Succi, who flicked the ball to the Indian striker.
Zakeer Mudampara - 7/10
The Kerala midfielder was not up to the mark against his home club Kerala Blasters days ago, however he displayed a much better performance against Pune. The 26-year old was the one who made the tackles in the centre of the pitch for Chennai and also played some good forward balls.
Manuele Blasi - 6.5/10
The Italian midfielder was calm with the ball at his feet and made some good interceptions. He gave away the ball a couple of times, but was not affected by it. Blasi was taken off for Baljit Sahni in the 76th minute of the game.
Hans Mulder - 6/10
The Dutchman ran up and down the pitch on the night, but didn't have much influence on the game. Mulder's key contribution was his role in Jeje's goal. It was an averrage performance by the player, and more is expected from him.
Raphael Augusto - 8/10
The Brazilian was the most threatening Chennai player on the night. The opposition players found it very difficult to get the ball from him as he was too good with the ball at his feet. Augusto assisted Succi's goal with a good cross and also played a role in the team's opening goal. The midfielder was subbed off for John Arne Riise in the 82nd minute of the game.
Davide Succi - 8.5/10
The Italian claimed a goal and an assist on the night. The player used his physicality to his advantage and scored his goal using his head. The striker also did well to flick the ball to Jeje, who scored the team's first goal. Succi consistently caused troubles to the Pune defence until he got subbed in the 87th minute of the game.
Jeje Lalpekhlua - 8/10
The Indian striker scored his third goal of the season and his second one against the Stallions. Jeje had a free header on goal in the dying minutes of the first half and made sure he scored from it. The player also played a nice one-two with Augusto, who assisted Succi's goal.
Substitutes
Baljit Sahni - 5/10
Sahni came on for Blasi in the 76th minute of the game and didn't have much to do. Chennai were trying to kill the game off and hence he couldn't make any impact.
John Arne Riise - 5/10
The former Liverpool man replaced Augusto in the 82nd minute of the game. Riise was playing in front of Lalrianzuala on the left after coming on. There was nothing much he had to do too.
Eli Sabia - N/A
Sabia came in too late to make any impact.
Pune City
Edel Bete - 6/10
The former Chennaiyin FC player couldn't do much about both the goals and was helpless. The goalkeeper made sure that the opposition didn't have another goal on the night.
Eduardo Fereira - 5/10
The Pune defender was not up to his mark on the night and the Chennai attackers got the better of him. Fereira had a game to forget and will be hoping to improve in the coming fixtures. The centre-back was replaced by Jesus Tato in the 68th minute of the game.
Gouramangi Singh - 5/10
The Indian defender had a similar game to his fellow teammate Eduardo. Singh was not able to handle Succi, when he assisted Jeje's goal. He didn't have any remarkable contribution in the match.
Augustin Fernandes - 6/10
Augustin was the best player in the defence for Pune. The defender tried his best to deal with the opposition, but ended up failing as his partners were poor. The Goan player couldn't contribute much to his team.
Yumnan Raju - 6/10
Raju was one of the better players for the side managed by Antonio Habas. Even though his passes and crosses were inaccurate at times, he was the only one who got into good positions for his team.
Narayan Das - 4.5/10
The Pune wing-back had a nightmare game against Pune. The player failed to track back properly, especially for Jeje's goal. His passes and crosses were completely off the mark.
Mohamed Sissoko - 5.5/10
The Stallions captain ran from box to box without any result. The former Liverpool player was tortured by Chennai's Augusto.
Lenny Rodrigues - 4/10
The Indian midfielder couldn't do anything with or without the ball at his feet. Rodrigues was taken off at the start of the second half and replaced by Eugeneson Lyngdoh.
Jonatan Lucca - 4/10
Another poor player and the top candidate for the worst player of the game. Lucca is Pune's number seven and a lot is expected from him, but everything he did on the night was mediocre. His freekicks, corners, and passes lacked quality.
Anibal Zurdo - 5.5/10
Zurdo came the closest for his side with a freekick, which went just wide of the post. He didn't contribute much after that, even though he tried. The striker was subbed off in the 78th minute of the game and was replaced by Momar Ndoye.
Dramane Traore - 4.5/10
The Malian striker could have done much better for his team, but he was also poor like most of his teammates. Traore missed Pune's best chances and never looked like a proper goalscoring striker.
Substitutes
Eugeneson Lyngdoh - 6/10
The dynamic Indian midfielder came on for a very poor Lenny Rodrigues at the start of the second half. Lyngdoh was much better than his teammates, even though he didn't make any particular contributions or impact.
Jesus Tato - 5/10
The Spaniard came on for Eduardo in the 68th minute of the game. Habas was trying to get his team back into the game by bringing on a forward in place of a defender, but it didn't work out. Tato could hardly make many impact on the game.
Momar Ndoye - 6/10
The Senegalese replaced Anibal Zurdo on the 78-minute mark. He created a great chance from the left side, which was missed by striker Traore.
