'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chennaiyin FC hosted ATK in what was billed as the match of the champions, as they are the only two teams to win the prestigious ISL trophy. Chennaiyin have scored the most number of goals at home, whereas ATK have scored the most number of away goals. Keeping these stats in mind the match promised to be an enthralling encounter.
The first half was cagey with both the teams trying to get a grip on the game. The second half also started the same way the first half ended. The match continued to be a cagey affair with most of the game being played in the midfield but 'Mizo Sniper' Jeje Lalpekhlua broke the deadlock in the 65th minute. The dynamics of the game changed drastically after that as it turned out to be a 5-goal thriller which Chennaiyin went on to win 3-2.
On that note, let's take a look at how the players performed in the clash of the champions.
Chennaiyin FC
Karanjit Singh (5.5): Karanjit wasn’t called into action much, but didn’t do reasonably well when called upon. He could have done better with both the goals that Chennaiyin conceded.
Inigo Calderon (9): The best Chennaiyin defender of the night for sure. Inigo helped the wingers in attack and also scored a goal for Chennaiyin.
Mailson Alves (5.5): Mailson wasn’t at his best today and was beaten with ease by the likes of Keane and Kuqi.
Sereno (6.5): Sereno had an average game of sorts. He was excellent while going forward during the set pieces but was poor in defence.
Jerry (7.5): Jerry put in a superb shift in the left-back position. He was lethal in blocking the runs of Rupert and Prabir. He also forced Prabir to put early crosses into the box, which were often inaccurate.
Dhanpal Ganesh (7): The lad from Chennai had a towering presence in the middle of the park. He helped Chennaiyin win a lot of second balls too.
Bikramjit Singh (5.5): The least impressive Chennaiyin midfielder of the night. Bikramjit was poor with his anticipation and distribution.
Jamie Gavilan (6.5): Started in place of Raphael Augusto, and limped off the pitch in the second half. In between, he played an important role for Chennaiyin in the middle of the park and had a big role to play in the build-up to the first goal.
Gregory Nelson (7.5): The best midfielder for Chennai, Gregory gave plenty of a headache to the likes of Prabir Das and Debjit Majumdar.
Francis (6): Francis didn’t have the best of games and it was actually Inigo who made all the difference on the right.
Jeje Lalpekhlua (9): A brace and plenty of impressive touches probably the man of the match, Jeje had a brilliant game today. He showed why he is rated as one of the best poachers in the sub-continent. His positioning today was superb.
ATK
Debjit Majumder (4.5): Debjit was directly responsible for the first and the third goals. No only did he fail to cut out a bouncing ball in the box, that led to the first goal, but he also palmed a low cross straight into the path of Jeje, for Chennaiyin's third.
Keegan Pereira (6): Keegan tried his best to keep the likes of Nelson and Jerry at bay, he was successful at times but was beaten at some very crucial moments.
Tom Thorpe (6): Thorpe will have a hard time sleeping today as it was his deflection that helped Chennaiyin score the second goal. Thorpe wasn’t poor but looked out-of-place during some crucial moments of the match.
Jordi Monte l(5.5): Jordi was probably the worst defender for ATK today. He looked out-of-place and kept chasing shadows during the game.
Prabir Das (6): Prabir tried hard while going forward but wasn't very effective defending, even his crosses were not very effective
Zequinha (8.5): Scored a brilliant goal. He also was a menace for the Chennaiyin defence and gave quite a headache to the likes of Inigo and Sereno.
Conor Thomas (6.5): Conor looked really good at times, but was left wanting for most parts of the game. He had troubles keeping the likes of Ganesh and Gavilan in check.
Rupert Nongrum (6): The youngster from Meghalaya tried really hard but wasn’t very effective down the right flank. He was also kept in close check by Jerry and couldn’t get past him.
Bipin Singh (6): The Manipuri looked lively during the first half but was subbed off during the second half for marquee man Robbie Keane. Bipin could have done more during his time on the pitch.
Hitesh Sharma (5.5): Hitesh played a different role compared to what we have seen him in. He failed in that role and he was beaten by the likes of Ganesh, Gavilan and Thapa with relative ease.
Kuqi (7.5): Kuqi did score a goal, but he wasn’t up to his full form. His positioning also seemed to be off.
