ISL 2017 - A comedy of errors not enough to save Chennaiyin from 2-3 defeat to FC Goa
A GAME PACKED WITH action, great performances and greater mistakes led to a goalfest in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai, which led to home team Chenanyin FC losing 2-3 to FC Goa.
Chennaiyin FC started with Jeje and Boaringdao Bodo at front; it was a good risk to take on paper, an early goal for the home team would put them in a strong position.
They even started well, controlling the ball and earning a few early set pieces that had FC Goa with their back to the wall.
But FC Goa were biding their time and looking for an opening through counters. Early on, in the 20th minute, Brandon Fernandez exchanged the ball with Eduardo that saw him end up directly in front of goal and he shot the ball over the bar.
But he made up for it minutes later when he got the ball in his own half during a set-piece where CFC had committed many players ahead, initiated a swift counter along the pitch, and found Ferran Corominas who sent the ball past Karanjit Singh. FC Goa had the lead 0-1.
Minutes later, the Gaurs struck again. A brilliant ball from Brandon Fernandes found Lanzarote clear of the Chennaiyin FC defensive line, and he shot it straight into the net.
0-2 down, Chennaiyin FC suddenly went into crisis mode. They were now chasing the ball most of the time as FC Goa started keeping calm possession dragging their opponent players all over the pitch. They almost cleared the defensive line again, this time Karanjit took no chances and put a stop to it with a professional foul. The referee let him off with a yellow.
Towards the end of the first half, Goa took a 0-3 lead. Lanzarote, scorer of the previous goal, got the assist this time as he set up Mandar Rao Dessai for a prime finish.
Chennaiyin FC came out 0-3 down and needed to take their chances. But their luck just didn't seem to be with them as they hit the woodwork early on. Introducing Bikramjit Singh and Gregory Nelson made them look a unit consolidated, but at this point their opponents were also playing a game that was slightly more geared towards protecting their lead.
As the minutes went on, desperation increased for the home team, and the game became increasingly physical. Newly introduced sub for CFC Bikramjit Singh picked up a booking, as did Goa's assist-man Brandon Fernandes.
At a time when Chennaiyin FC seemed to be far away from making a comeback, FC Goa keeper Laxmikant Kattimani's poor form from last season resurfaced and he handed the home team a lifeline. CFC got a free kick not far from the box and Inigo Calderon took the set piece. It went through the wall straight into the hands of Kattimani but the keeper somehow managed to spill it right into the goal. It was 1-3, 70 minutes in.
For the rest of the game, the veteran custodian had to put up with a sarcastic chant from Chennaiyin FC fans, "Kattimani, you are our own."
And it was perhaps well deserved since 83 minutes into the game, when a lofted ball into the Goa box was chased by Jeje Lalpekhlua, Kattimani rushed towards him and fouled him despite a defender being already on his case. Jeje crashed onto the ground, and the referee pointed towards the penalty spot. Raphael Augusto sent him the wrong way and suddenly it was 2-3... the game was back alive, thanks to the FC Goa keeper.
The last few minutes were as tense as they could be with Chennaiyin FC mounting multiple attacks and FC Goa defenders suddenly living on eggshells, under pressure. But the clock ran out and FC Goa got their win; but their smooth dominance and superb performance early in the game was almost marred by their keeper's blunders in the late second half.
