Jeje’s shot helps Chennaiyin win
JAMSHEPUR: A first half of two penalties — one converted and one missed — decided the outcome of the Indian Super League match between Jamshedpur FC and Chennaiyin FC, with the visiting side emerging 1-0 winners in a closely-fought contest here.
Just when it seemed the first half would be remembered for a flurry of half chances, the referee pointed to the spot when Jamshedpur’s Mehtab Hossain took a tumble in his own box and handled the ball in the process.
Jeje Lalpekhlua sent Subrata Pal the other way with a smart penalty for his fourth goal of the season, and it turned out to be the difference between the two teams.
But the drama was hardly over in the first session when the referee pointed to the dreaded spot once again, this time at the other end.
Chennaiyin manager John Gregory was fuming at the touchline over the decision of the referee against his side and was sent into the stands for his reaction, but Kervens Belfort’s effort was saved brilliantly by Karanjit Singh to the dismay of the home team supporters.
It was the closest that the home side came to equalising because the second half was a cagey affair with a lot of mistakes from attackers of both sides in the final third.
STRUGGLING DELHI TAKE ON MUMBAI
MUMBAI: Struggling Delhi Dynamos will strive hard and hope for a turnaround in their fortunes when they take on a confident-looking Mumbai City on Friday.
Delhi are on the horns of a horror run since their lone victory against Pune City in their opening away game on November 22. They have lost five games on the trot since then, three of those at home, and are currently lying at the bottom of the table.
The hosts, on the other hand, had a hiccup in their last home game – losing to ATK – but then travelled to Guwahati to put it across Northeast United.
POPOVIC SUSPENDED AND FINED FOR RANT
NEWDELHI: Pune City head coach Ranko Popovic has been suspended for four matches and fined ~5 lakh for his remarks against match officials after his side’s match against Goa at Margao on December 23. Pune won the match 2-0. The suspension will apply with immediate effect.
“AIFF Disciplinary Committee found FC Pune City coach Popovic in breach of Article 50 (misconduct against match officials) and Article 58 (offensive behaviour and fair play) for his remarks made against Match Officials at the post-match press conference in Goa after Match # 31 between FC Goa and FC Pune City,” the ISL said in a statement.