Play-by-Play: Chennai City earn maiden top division win, beat Aizawl FC 2-0 at home

IN A MAJOR COMEBACK pulled off by a struggling team, Chennai City beat the hitherto unbeaten Aizawl FC 2-0 to get their first ever win in the top division league.

Hosting the Federation Cup finalists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai City did not start as the better of the two clubs. It was Aizawl FC who created the better chances early on and although the home team's defence stayed strong their attack seemed to be withering every time they crossed the final third.

But all that changed early in the second half when Marcus 'The Tank' Vinicius spotted that Aizawl keeper Albino Gomes was slightly off his spot. His quick piledriver put Channai City in the lead and the onus now fell on Aizawl FC to chase the game against a thick defence.

Although the visitors created some good chances as the game went on and even hit the woodwork at one point, a goal was still elusive as Chennai's Afghan defender Amiri played one of the best games he has ever had on Indian soil. Towards the end of the game, push came to shove and Chennai City ended up winning a penalty kick that striker Charles de Souza calmly converted.

With their debut victory, Chennai City have established themselves as a club that's despite being new to this level of football is fast evolving towards self-actualization. They are now on 4 points from 5 matches, just above Minerva Punjab FC. Aizawl FC, meanwhile, are no longer unbeaten, but remain at a respectable 3rd place with 10 points from 5 games.

Here's how the whole match unfolded, narrated in blow by blow detail in our real time text commentary...