Chennaiyin FC B end campaign with a win

Chennai: The Chennaiyin FC B team concluded their Hero 2nd Division League campaign with a 2-1 win over Fateh Hyderabad AFC at the SSN College Ground here today. First half goals from forwards Bawlte Rohmingthanga and Krishna Pandit proved enough for CFC B as the visitors pulled a goal back in the closing stages.

This was the CFC B team’s first win of the season. The victory ensured CFC B ended their Hero 2nd Division League campaign on a high after a record of three draws and four defeats in their previous group matches.

There were four changes to the CFC B team that lost 1-0 to the Kerala Blasters reserves in their previous match. Sayak Barai started in goal ahead of Samik Mitra as Ajin Tom came in for Harsh Bartwal. Hendry Antonay and Remi also made way as Charles Britto and Bawlte Rohmingthanga came into the starting eleven.

It was a subdued start from both sides as Fateh Hyderabad shaded possession.

Then in the seventh minute, Vijay Thangavel won a foul on the edge of the Fateh box following an error. Aman’s resulting free-kick deflected out for a corner.

The team from Hyderabad were a threat on the break, creating half-chances and even hitting the side-netting on one occasion.

Aman Chetri on the right flank was linking up well with Vijay Thangavel in the CFC midfield and with Rohmingthanga and Krishna upfront. However incision in the final third was lacking for the hosts.

CFC went route one on 25 minutes, when a long throw from Mohammed Sarif Khan found Rohmingthanga in the box, as the latter’s effort went just wide of the far post.

Fateh No. 23 Haileuyibe Iranggau had a clear chance to score just after the half-hour mark, as he put a free-header wide from close range.

Sayak in the CFC goal showcased presence of mind a few minutes later as he thwarted an onrushing Fateh attacker as he tried round him. The CFC defence managed to block the rebound.

On 38 minutes, Chennaiyin took the lead after some quick thinking on the left flank. A quick throw-in to Krishna on the left caught Fateh off-guard, who freed Syed Suhail Pasha on the byline. Suhail’s cut-back was met awkwardly by a retreating defender as the goalkeeper tried to keep the ball out. Rohmingthanga was quick to pounce and guide the ball home from close range and give his side a 1-0 lead.

1-0 became 2-0 to CFC on the stroke half-time at the end of a flowing counter-attacking move. Rohmingthanga took advantage of a Fateh mispass at the center circle to charge towards the opposition box, only to square it to the overlapping Krishna, his strike-partner taking a touch before firing past the Fateh keeper.

CFC had a great chance to make it 3-0 right from the restart. Kharlukhi’s long ball from kick-off was headed down by Aman for Krishna, who controlled the ball and shot straight at the Fateh keeper, who parried it away.

Chennaiyin made two changes at the start of the second half as Lalliansanga Renthlei and Remi replaced Vijay Thangavel and Prabin Tigga.

Fateh Hyderabad came hard in search of a goal to halve the deficit, but the CFC defence continued to be resolute.

With Fateh chasing the elusive goal, CFC were a threat on the break. Aman almost gave Chennaiyin the cushion of a third goal when he got on the end of a Lalliansanga through ball, looping his effort just over the bar with the keeper beaten.

Sayak then made a fantastic save from close range to keep Forster Addae’s effort out, at the end of the latter’s darting run into the CFC box.

Fateh Hyderabad did manage to halve the deficit in the closing stages courtesy Forster Addae, but CFC B held on to their lead to finish their 2018-19 Hero 2nd Division League campaign with a much-needed win for their confidence.

Score: Chennaiyin FC B 2 (B. Rohmingthanga 38′, Krishna Pandit 45+2′) beat Fateh Hyderabad AFC 1 (Forster Addae 90+4′)