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After three straight games on the road, Chennaiyin FC are back to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, as the first team to confirm a spot in the semifinals. They take on an FC Goa side, who will be in buoyant mood and will be looking to make it seven games without defeat.
Chennai’s assistant coach Vivek Nagul said that them team would work hard to ensure that complacency didn’t set in. He also said that, although it was a luxury qualifying for the semifinals with two games to go, Chennai would take each game as it comes, and look to carry momentum into the knockout phase.
For Goa, who have enjoyed a renaissance of sorts, this game is no different. As Brazilian coach Zico said, all this success has been down to hard work from the team, and they would continue to work hard, both on and off the field.
Venue and Kick-off
Chennai are back at home, and the Nehru Stadium will be at it’s vociferous best, as the crowd welcome the table toppers. Although Elano – who has become a darling of the masses – will be missing for Chennai, the crowd will still cheer the local heroes on. Chennaiyin, in return, will look to win their last two games, both at home, to give the crowd a fitting response.
Kickoff Time – 7pm IST
Possible starting Line-ups
Chennaiyin FC – (4-4-2(Diamond)): Gennaro Bracigliano; Jairo Suarez, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Bernard Mendy, Dhanachandra Singh; Bojan Djordjic, Harmanjot Khabra, Denson Devadas, Bruno Pelissari; Jeje Lalpekhlua, Balwant Singh
Vivek Nagul did mention that both Gouramangi Singh and Mikael Silvestre are nearing full fitness, but he also said that Chennai would be careful with their team selection, and players with niggles wouldn’t play. That would probably mean that Chennai are reluctant to play Silvestre as they feel his experience will be key in the knockout phase. Especially given that Chennai have already qualified, they are unlikely to take too many risks.
Elano has not yet joined the team as he recovers from a calf problem, and new signing Alessandro Nesta will only be available from the next game onwards. Bruno Pelissari scored a sublime winner in Chennai’s last game against Kerala Blasters, and he is likely to take the place of Cristian Hidalgo in the starting eleven. Nagul also mentioned that Bojan Djordjic has looked really sharp in training, and Chennai’s captain could well be the man replacing Silvestre in the eleven.
FC Goa – (4-3-3): Jan Seda, Debabrata Das, Bruno Pinheiro, Gregory Arnolin, Narayan Das; Bikramjit Singh, Haroon Amiri, Andre Santos; Romeo Fernandes, Mandar Rao Desai, Miroslav Slepicka
Zico has seen his Goa side work wonders on the pitch, ever since he moved Bruno Pinheiro to centre back, to partner Gregory Arnolin. That has meant Afghan midfielder Haroon Amiri has started in midfield, and Amiri, alongside Andre Santos, has been dictating terms for Goa. It has also helped Goa that their strikers have struck form. Whenever they have been called upon, both Miroslav Slepicka and Tolgay Ozbey have been among the goals, and that gives Zico a pleasant selection problem.
Fans in Chennai would want to catch Arsenal legend Robert Pires in action, but the Frenchman is unlikely to start the game, given his limited contributions for Goa this season.
Key Battles
Bojan Djordjic vs Andre Santos
Santos has been instrumental in all good things that Goa have done this season. He’s passed the ball well, and been incisive, providing Slepika and Tolgay chance after chance. The responsibilty of shackling Santos will fall on Chennai’s captain Djordjic. Djordjic, being the personality that he is, will love that role. He has never been one to shy away from responsibility, and as Nagul said, that added resposibility brings out the best in him.
Bernard Mendy vs Miroslav Slepicka
Slepicka has been in prime form, and is second in the race for the Golden Boot, behind Elano. He has had consistently excellent service from the likes of Santos, Amiri and Mandar Rao Desai. Mendy, for his part, has been Chennai’s best defender this season. He is generally calm with the ball at his feet, and is not afraid to jump into his tackles. As the Frenchman himself said at yesterday’s press conference, when he is on the field, he has no friends.
Predictions
Chennai have very little to play for, in terms of table position, but the incentive of sending their fans home happy is playing high on all the players’ minds. For Goa, a win would see them join Chennai in the semifinals. A close contest, and possibly another draw, awaits.
Chennaiyin FC 1-1 FC Goa
