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Chennaiyin FC’s head coach and World Cupper Marco Materazzi had a point when he insisted that the team had enough reserves to fill the gap when the stars are not able to take the field. He was clearly referring to the absence of Elano Blumer and Stiven Mendoza, the two players who had not only brought the bulk of goals for the Chennai team but had also captured the imagination of fans everywhere.
The one man who proved his coach right was Bruno Augusto Pelissari de Lima, the 21-year-old Brazilian. The midfielder can conjure up magic in a contest. Bruno did just that in a crucial match against Kerala Blasters FC when all seemed over bar the final whistle in a match heading for a stalemate.
As if from nowhere came Pelissari as substitute, picking up a loose ball from his end, running up over 40 yards and just when a defender thought he had provided the cover for goalkeeper, he came up with an exquisite left-footer that saw the ball curl into the left corner. It was a sight to behold for the spectators and a sight of agony for goalkeeper Sandip Nandy.
What is significant was that over 60,000 verbal supporters were cheering their own team in Kochi and this young man still showed remarkable composure and assurance when there have been several instances in the Hero Indian Super League when straightforward goal-scoring opportunities have been missed. Indeed, getting goals remains one big worry for several coaches.
The young attacking midfielder is an academy product of Brazilian club Paranaense and he has scored earlier too in similar uncomplicated fashions against Pune and Mumbai and surely has now become a trump card for Materazzi. With news of Elano's return and Alessandro Nesta as another value addition, Chennaiyin should be a team of riches and shining in that will be Pelissari.
He might not have the experience or vision of Elano but Pelissari makes up with his turn of pace. Seeing the Chennaiyin footballer, particularly when he runs in for goal from 25 to 30 yards out, people at times remember Ricardo Kaka from his glory days. There is more to come from this genial midfielder in the days ahead and Chennaiyin is fortunate that it has in its rank a player on whom it could repose trust when the chips are down.
