NorthEast vs Chennai: Cards abound, missed penalty in eventful half
Starting Line-Up:
NorthEast United FC - Rehenesh TP, Robin Gurung, Cedric Hengbart, Andre Bikey, Aiborlang Khongjee, Boithang Haokip, Bruno Herrero, Silas, Diomansy Kamara, Francis Dadzie, Holicharan Narzary
Chennaiyin FC - Apoula Edel, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Barnard Mendy, Alessandro Potenza, Dhanachandra Singh, Manuele Blasi, Harmanjot Khabra, Jayesh Rane, Bruno Pelissari, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Fikru Teferra
A flurry of cards and a missed penalty highlighted a period of confusion and chaos as NorthEast United and Chennaiyin FC remained goalless in the first half at a 4th round ISL encounter tonight.
Cesar Farias made all-out changes to the team that started against FC Goa. New signing Andre Bikey was brought straight into the starting line-up. To make room for the extra foreigner, Rehenesh was used as a keeper instead of ex-Chennaiyin Bracigliano. Aiborlang Khongjee, back from national duty, got his first start. Israil Gurung, Bruno Herrero, Boithang Haokip and Holicharan Narzary also made it back to the starting eleven. Marquee player Simao Sabrosa, recovered from injury, made his way into the bench.
Chennaiyin FC also fielded a squad full of surprises. Top scorer Stiven Mendoza and marquee player Elano were both rested. Bernard Mendy, Dhanachandra Singh, Bruno Pelissari, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Manuele Blasi and Fikru Teferra all made into the starting line-up.
Contrary to all expectations and perhaps due to the all-encompassing changes made to both teams, NorthEast United started brightly and actually dominated in terms of possession, attacking play and shots on goal. There were a couple of mistakes from Rehenesh in the middle; Kamara and Silas got close a few times but neither side managed to open the scoring.
Things started getting out of hand with towards the end of the half when referee Matt Conger lost control of a situation following a penalty decision in the 38th minute. Potenza had brought Hengbart down inside the penalty box, so he got yellow carded and Diomansy Kamara stepped up to take the spot kick. His delivery was poor and Edel easily stopped the penalty.
Directly following that, Chennaiyin player Harmanjot Singh Khabra walked up to the referee and used abusive language. Matt Cogner immediately flashed him a yellow. But Khabra lost cool and kept mouthing off so Cogner showed him a red card.
At first it was not clear why Khabra had been sent off and confusion reigned throughout the stadium. Next moment it was Diomansy Kamara who fouled Fikru and got another yellow card. This sent the tension around the game off the charts as even the coaches started having a verbal battle in the sidelines. As the referees ran in to get the situation in control, players also ran in, pushing and shoving ensued and chaos reigned. In the end, when things had calmed down, Chennaiyin captain Bernard Mendy was given a yellow card for his conduct during the sideline spat.
As the match ran into several minutes of extra time, Fikru picked up a yellow of his own, by going at Andre Bikey with a high boot.
All in all, the half saw six yellow card and one red card. It was a period where football took a backseat to disciplinary incidents, which is never healthy in a game of football. The nervous situation is definitely going to boil over to the second half, which Chennaiyin will have to play with 10 men.
NorthEast United's Diomansy Kamara will will be kicking themselves for missing that penalty. But with a dominating display in the first half and a weakened opponent in the second, they are the closest to bagging their first points of the season than ever, and if they fail to gain a favourable result from here, it will be the biggest blow yet to their campaign.
