Half Time Report: It is an Elano show in Goa as Chennaiyin dominate to lead 2-0

Starting Line-ups:

FC Goa: Elinton Andrade, Debabrata Roy, Lucio, Gregory Arnolin, Keenan Almeida, Jofre, Denson Devadas, Mandar Rao Desai, Leo Moura, Romeo Fernandes, Reinaldo

Chennaiyin FC: Apoula Edel, Lalhmangaihsanga Ralte, Bernard Mendy, Mailson Alves, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Raphael Augusto, Thoi Singh, Elano, Stiven Mendoza, Jayesh Rane

CHENNAIYIN FC old boys Stiven Mendoza and marquee Elano provided a convincing two-goal lead to their team as they took on FC Goa in a crucial ISL third round encounter at Fatorda tonight. 

After a decent start to the season with a win and a draw, FC Goa coach Zico chose to use the same starting line-up for the third straight game. Marco Materazzi, trying to recover from back to back defeats, chose to introduced Mehrajuddin, Mailson, Raphael and Jayesh Rane into the strating line-up. Of those left out, Balwant Singh had to be excused due to an injury.

The game began in an aggressive fashion with the visitors' forward line baring its teeth. In the very third minute, Elano sent a high ball to Jayesh Rane up front whose shot slammed straight into Goa keeper Andrade. Next minute Elano had found Mendosa, who took the shot, Andrade saved it but dropped the ball, but grabbed it before anyone else could get to it.

The pressure stayed on and in the 10th minute, proved to be worth it. Elano fed Mendosa, who took the shot, Andrade made the save, but once again failed to grip the ball, leading to Arnolin attempting to clear it. But the ball ended up with Mendosa again. This time, the finishing was good, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. 

Even after taking the lead, Chennaiyin kept the pressure on. Two minutes later, Elano found Andrade in a one-on-one situation but somehow failed to finish.

Goa tried to get back at the visitors a few minutes later when a Leo Moura pass found Keenan with only Chennaiyin keeper Edel ahead of him. The custodian had no option but to rush ahead to make a block. Keenan sent the ball past Edel, but Jayesh Rane got there first and made an off-the-line save.

The FC Goa defence was failing to impress and Lucio was doing most of the hard work. A badly timed clearance attempt from Arnolin nearly found Mendosa but Goa's Brazilian marquee was there to save the situaiton. Jofre in the midfield was also trying to make an impact. He made a good pass that provided a chance for Reinaldo to run straight into the Chennaiyin box but Mehrajuddin tackled him. The referee did not think it was a foul, but it could have been a free kick from a good position any other night.

For Chennaiyin, Mendy was having a particularly good game. Whenever Jofre supplied Romeo Fernandes, Mendy was never far away, ready to block his path. Those lethal runs up the flank that worked so well for FC Goa on the first game were effectively block.

Then, towards the end of the half, came the second goal. Debabrata Roy lost the ball to Thoi Singh, who passed it to Jayesh Rane, who forwarded it to Elano who was somehow unguarded. The finish was simple but elegant, and suddenly FC Goa were sitting on a well-deserved 2-0 lead going into half-time, in control and poised to win their first match of the season.