Half Time Report: Pelissari strike sends dominating Chennai ahead against ATK

Starting Line-Ups:

Chennaiyin FC - Apoula Edel, Dhanachandra Singh, Bernard Mendy, Mailson Alves, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Zakeer Mundampara, Manuele Blasi, Thoi Singh, Bruno Pelissari, Stiven Mendoza, Jeje Lalpekhlua

Atletico de Kolkata - Amrinder Singh, Augustin Fernandes, Arnab Mondal, Tiri, Rino Anto, Borja Fernandez, Jaime Gavilan, Oftense Nato, Arata Izumi, Sameehg Doutie, Iain Hume

A STUNNING FREE-KICK from Bruno Pelissari sent Chennaiyin FC ahead in the first half in their first leg ISL semi-final enconter with Atletico de Kolkata tonight.

Chennaiyin FC were missing the services of Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Elano Blumer due to both being suspended. So Materazzi replaced them with Pelissari and Mendy, swapping Potenza with Zakeer to keep the 5:6 Indian-foreigner ratio intact.

Atletico de Kolkata, meanwhile, made three changes of their own; bringing back Amrinder, Nato and Augustin into the starting eleven.

There was domination from Chennai to begin with. The Super Machans looked at east in their home away from home as they entered the arena wearing white t-shirts proclaiming '#PLAYFORCHENNAI', and their on-field performance backed up that intent. They kept possession and increasingly sharpened up their movement in the midfield and after a while, chances to score started coming their way.

Dhanachandra ran up the left and Amrinder Singh ran out to stop him. Dhanachandra sent a cross in to Pelissari who let fly from a distance. The ball missed the target by half a foot. 

Then Mendoza tried to make a run straight in but didn't get enough space to take the shot.

When Thoi ran into ATK box the ball hit Tiri's arm and he appealed for a penalty but the referee didn't listen. 

But after a lot of back and forth and a yellow card picked up by Manuele Blasi, salvation came for Chennaiyin FC in the form of a Bruno Pelissari free-kick. The Brazilian had a very narrow opening into the net and he sent the ball straight through that, leaving defenders and the keeper without much of an option.

A further blow to ATK came in the form of an injury to captain Borja Fernandez. The player had to be carried out and Habas was forced to introduce Dejan Lekic in his place.

Then the defending champions had a great chance to get even. A brilliant through ball from Iain Hume reached Sameehg Doutie who sent a cross to newly introduced Lekic who could not get hold of it.

And with that, the match reached half-time. Chennaiyin FC, at this point, were looking very much the team in charge; having the majority of possession, more attacks and of course the extra goal cushion. But Chennai vs ATK matches tend to become unpredictable goalfests so it's unlikely that the final score of this game is going to be 1-0.