Early Diwali for Chennai
How can a team supported by Rajinikanth lose? Spurred by the Super Star, Chennaiyin FC celebrated Diwali a day early with a fighting 2- 1 win over Kerala Blasters in their first home match in the Indian Super League here on Tuesday.
French defender Bernard Mendy scored an otherworldly goal by the hour mark to help the Chennai club make it two out of two in the nascent league.
Mendy’s strike was sensational. And it was worthy of winning any football contest. Brazilian Elano had put the hosts ahead from the spot in the 14th minute before Iain Hume made it all square early in the second half by hooking the ball home off a corner.
But the splendid night will be remembered by all for the Frenchman’s divine winner. With his back to goal, Mendy blasted the ball in with his flying leftfoot. Bicycle kicks don’t get better. Kerala goalkeeper David James had the best view in the stadium. Even Goliath wouldn’t have had a chance to touch the ball as everything was right about Mendy’s festival bonanza.
Rajnikanth was off his seat to celebrate the special effort as Chennaiyin coowner Abhishek Bachchan and his famous dad Amitabh joined him. Kerala Blasters co- owner Sachin Tendulkar completed the set of headline grabbers in the VIP enclosure but his presence failed to inspire Kerala.
The Blasters, who lost their opener against NorthEast United, will be gutted not to take home anything yet again. They were clearly the better side in the second half. Hume was a livewire throughout. He tormented the Chennaiyin defence towards the end. The Canadian nearly set up an equaliser when he fired a superb cross from the right but C. S. Sabeeth stabbed the ball wide.
Chennaiyin were lucky to get the penalty. Gurwinder Singh, who had been on a yellow, was deemed to have brought down Abhishek Das on the right side when it appeared that he had clearly got the ball.
Referee Rahul D’Sa didn’t have a clear view but he pointed to the spot after a signal from his assistant. Elano made no mistake from 12 yards for his second goal of the tournament. The Blasters were clearly unhappy with the referee.
Refereeing was once again poor when the assistant who had played a pivotal role in the award of the penalty allowed Chennaiyin’s Colombian forward John Mendoza grab Elano’s header from a clear off- side position. But he let the gift slip through his fingers.
Mendoza went for glory himself instead of squaring the ball to Balwant Singh, who was in better position. Mendoza would have thought a penalty was imminent when James brought him down but he got a yellow for ‘ stimulation’ instead.