Half Time Report: Chennai make comeback at home, dominate Pune to take 1-0 lead

Starting Line-Ups:

Chennaiyin FC - Karanjit Singh, Dhanachandra Singh, Bernard Mendy, Mailson Alves, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Jayesh Rane, Manuele Blasi, Raphael Augusto, Thoi Singh, Elano, Stiven Mendoza

FC Pune City - Steve Simonsen, Nicky Shorey, Gouramangi Singh, Roger Johnson, Dharmaraj Ravanan, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Didier Zokora, Jackichand Singh, Yendrick Ruiz, Manish Maithani, Tuncay Sanli

CHENNAIYIN FC SHOWED THEIR INTENT in a dominating first half performance against Pune City, leading 1-0 at the break.

The match began with a special little ceremony for both the teams as the Indian Super League introduced the golden boot and golden glove armbands for the players with most goals and clean sheets. The bands went to Chennaiyin striker Stiven Mendoza and Pune City keeper Steve Simonsen. 

Mendoza was one of the six changes that Materazzi made to the starting line-up, including Karanjit Singh making his debut in goal in order to make way for that extra outfield foreigner. Others who got to start were Elano, Raphael, Thoi and Mailson. 

Pune City mostly stuck to their winning combination with only once change in their ranks; misfiring Lenny Rodrigues making way for Manish Maithani. 

The half was dominated by Chennaiyin FC as Pune City hardly got to take a good crack at the goal thanks to the defence working well enough and the return to using Elano as the pivot paying off big time for the home team. Up front, too, it was the home team that was making the more threatening moves.

There was a good chance for Pune early on when Zokora's pass to Yendrick saw the latter take a shot but miss the target.

Golden goalie Simonsen started the game quite well and was the reason why Chennaiyin did not have a multiple goal lead in the first half. In the 20th minute he managed to save an Elano shot with his knee. Then Mendoza got a long ball from Alves, made a long run into the Pune box with Roger trailing him, managed to take a shot under pressure but Simonsen saved it again.

Minutes later Pune City came close when Lyngdoh managed to find Dharmaraj Ravanan inside the Chennaiyin box but the shot went over the target.

Then Chennaiyin took the much awaited lead. Dhanachandra provided a brilliant throw-in that Bernard Mendy managed to head past Simonsen. 

Pune City tried hard to come back and got a couple of chances towards the end of the half. A free kick by Nicky led to Karanjit Singh being put to task for the first time as he ran forward to intervene. Johnson got a good header on it but just about missed the crossbar.

A following corner kick created a scary moment inside the Chennai box the ball reached Wadoo, who fired at the goal but Karanjit made a briliant one handed save to deny him.

The half came to a close at 1-0 with Chennaiyin FC looking firmly in control of the game. Materazzi will be relieved that the re-introduction of Elano and Mendoza got the mobility back into the Chennai attack. And his defenders are doing their best too whenever challenged. But most of all, Karanjit has had an excellent ISL debut so far; something that give a big boost to Chennai, since now they can play 6 foreigners in the outfield without hesitating. That gem of a throw-in from Dhanachandra was just a cherry on top of a good team effort.

For Pune, there is an immediate need to take back the reins from the home side. David Platt will be worried; because he is playing pretty much his best team here. Unless the players produce something extraordinary in the second half, this match seems to be slipping away from their grasp.