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In what was the repeat of the semi-finals clash of the ISL season 4, FC Goa defeated Chennaiyin FC 3-1. The Gaurs and the Chennai side shared bitter and controversial moments with each other since the inception of Indian Super League.
In the finals of ISL season, 2 which is claimed to be the most controversial match wherein FC Goa were defeated by Chennaiyin FC after they revived from a three-goal deficit. The match of such intensity was played at the Marina Stadium in Chennai, wherein the Gaurs emerged victorious over the Super Machans.
Dominating the field of play, FC Goa scored in as early as the 12th minute through Edu Bedia to hold an upper hand in the match. Chennaiyin FC tried to turn the tables in their favour but missed a couple of chances in the first session of play. It was in the second half that FC Goa netted yet another goal through their star striker Coro making it tougher for the home side to get back into the game.
The newcomer Mortuda Fall drove the final nail into the coffin in the 80th minute taking the match away, however, Chennaiyin never gave up the fighting spirit and managed to pull a goal back in the injury time as Sabia scored a consolation goal for his team In the high-intensity match that saw a couple of yellow cards and heated arguments, FC Goa managed to dominate the play.
#1 The Feisty Drama Continues
FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC have been rivals in the Indian Super League since it has existed and this game was no different than any other game they played, filled with a lot of drama, renewed rivalry, controversies and yellow cards. Luckily the game didn’t see a red.
In all, there were 6 yellow cards shown with four being shown in the first half. With a game of that intensity, the players got into fights time and again making it difficult for the referee. Alves and Boumous were caught in a spat and were shown yellow, rewinding back to the time FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC played the final the on-field brawl with a marquee player was taken up to the police and not much has changed since between the two teams as 21 fouls were recorded in the 90-minute game. Though Goa held the upper hand in the fixture Chennaiyin FC never gave up and made their attempts to get back into the game.
#2 Goa dominates
Goa started the match on a very good note with crisp passing and amazing display of tiki-taka football initiated by Lobera in the squad. The hard work did pay off soon enough as the Gars netted an early goal. With a ball possession of 55 percent in contrast to 45 percent of the Chennaiyin side, FC Goa was up to the mark right from defending the goals to their finishing, making it difficult for the opponents to get back into the game.
The prolific Goan squad which scored 42 goals last season before crashing out of the tournament seem to be back with the same mentality and the same way of play with a depth in the team this time around, the team that conceded over 28 goals in the league stage keeping only two clean sheets are still struggling to get their defence on point after bad defending against NortEast United. Though defence, however, looks unreliable, time shall tell the tale.
#3 Sloppy defending feeble attacking by Chennaiyin
Coming into their second game, Chennaiyin FC conceded easy goals due to sloppy defending, The Super Machans who were once known for scoring goals from set pieces failed miserably as their strikers left their shooting boots home.
Anirudh Thapa, Gregory Nelson whereas wasteful as Raphael Agusto also missed a couple of chances to level terms one of which was a throw-in which was flicked by Jeje to Raphael who had a clear chance to bury it into the nets from 6-yards hit it over the crossbar.
Jeje wasn’t great either and was subbed off in the early second half. The Machans came on late in the match to open their account as Eli Sabia headed home their consolation goal in the injury time which was clearly not enough to get them back in the game.
Chennaiyin are sloppy when it comes to their defence and inaccurate with no killer instinct up front. The defending champions need a lot of work to do if they need to get in the race after a second consecutive defeat. They will have to go get their strategies on point.
#4 Coro hotshot in Indian football
The striker is surely enjoying his stint in the Indian Super League. Ferran Corominas took the fans by storm as he won the golden boot when he came last season, the striker woes FC Goa had in the past seemed to have died down with it as Coro continued to impress with a goal and an assist to Mourtada Fall in their match against the defending champions.
After a missed pass by the team in blue, an alert Seriton Fernandes squared the ball in the face of goal and Coro who makes his run at the far post to tap in, thus scoring his third of the season with ease.
The striker has already scored three goals in two matches and is in line for the race for the golden boot. The clinical finisher with the highest rate of shooting accuracy in ISL had 18 goals to his name last season finishing four goals ahead of Sunil Chettri and Coro is still out there breaking and creating havoc to every defence line in ISL since season 4.
#5 Chennaiyin fail, Goa have something to rejoice
Edu Bedia was allowed to latch on to a low cross to fire the ball into the low corner early in the game but Chennaiyin showed intensity and tried to get control of the game making constant runs, terrorising the Goa defence line.
Goa known for his vulnerable defence managed to hold on to their one-goal advantage until the end of the first session, courtesy, miss hits from Chennaiyin strikers. It is however too early to say and judge a team, with only two games played. Last season, Chennaiyin conceded more goals at home than they did away which doesn’t rule out their hopes of getting back stronger in the tournament.
A tremendous effort from the Boumous and the first goal from Mourtada Fall gave Goa a new reason to smile while Chennaiyin still has a lot of work to do.
