Tactical Chennaiyin FC rally to hold FC Goa

While FC Goa dominated the proceedings, it was Chennaiyin FC who walked away smiling as they held the hosts 1-1 in the first leg of their semifinal in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday.

Chennaiyin’s equaliser in the 71st minute, after a patient build-up from the midfield, saw Gregory Nelson feed substitute Anirudh Thapa, who stayed calm with defenders converging on him to slot home between goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani’s legs.

Six minutes earlier, Goa had opened their account through their best player on the field, Manuel Lanzarote.

The Spaniard was the one who started the move on the right flank and his perfect pass found Mandar Rao Dessai, who managed to beat Inigo Calderon on the left flank and cut back. The melee that followed saw Lanzarote tap in, giving Goa the edge.

CLOSE SHAVES

Goa could have gone a couple of goals down at the start of the second half but for Kattimani, who first stopped Jeje Lalpekhlua and then blocked Gregroy Nelson’s strike.

Chennaiyin, undefeated on the road in the last four matches, again showed that they can withstand the best of attacks as they made sure Lanzarote and Ferran Corominas didn’t have an opportunity to combine too often.

Their centre-backs Malison Alves and skipper Henrique Sereno stood tall as they have always this season to nullify the attacking threat possessed by Goa. In front of them, Raphael Augusto and Dhanpal Ganesh were brilliant as well.

Chennaiyin’s strategy to crowd the centre and force Goa to go wide worked perfectly as the crosses that came in were neatly tucked away by the tall centre backs. What that also did was not allow Lanzarote and Corominas to link up as they have done so often this season.

MARGAO: CHENNAIYIN’S EQUALISER SAW NELSON FEED THAPA, WHO STAYED CALM TO SLOT HOME