Chennaiyin FC conclude 2020-21 season with underwhelming 1-1 draw against Kerala Blasters FC
Goa, February 22, 2021: Chennaiyin FC ended their 2020-21 Indian Super League season with a 1-1 draw against Kerala Blasters FC at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Sunday night. Tajikistan winger Fatkhulo Fatkhulloev scored his first goal for Chennaiyin FC, that was cancelled out by a Gary Hooper penalty.
The result left CFC with 20 points from 20 games and in 8th place at the end of the league stages. With SC East Bengal and Kerala Blasters yet to play their final games, CFC’s closing position for the season will be ascertained in the days to come.
Head Coach Csaba Laszlo named a strong lineup in a bid to finish as high as possible in the table. With Eli Sabia out injured, Anirudh Thapa was named captain, making him CFC’s youngest and the ISL’s second-youngest captain ever at 23 years. A proud moment for the Dehradun-born India international, who made his debut for CFC less than five years back in 2016.
It was a dominant start to proceedings by Chennaiyin, with Chhangte wreaking havoc on the left wing. His cross in the second minute fell to Thapa’s feet, whose strong volley was parried away by Albino Gomes. Less than a minute later, the Mizo winger fired in an inviting cross for Jakub Sylvestr, who could only manage to send his header over from close range.
The strong start from the Marina Machans was rewarded in the 10th minute, with midfielder Edwin Vanspaul finding himself in space. His first-time pass for Fatkhulo freed up the Tajik, who sold a dummy to a Kerala defender before blasting the ball past Albino. This made him the first Tajik winger to score for CFC and in the ISL.
Despite the attacking instinct, CFC were prone to mistakes at the back, missing Eli Sabia’s leadership in that aspect. Rahul KP and Jordan Murray had a couple of half chances, before KBFC were awarded a soft penalty on the half hour mark. Murray and Deepak Tangri leapt for the ball, as the ball ricocheted off the former to strike the Punjabi defender’s arm that was in extremely close proximity. A harsh call from the referee who pointed to the spot. Gary Hooper stepped up and converted to make it 1-1.
It remained an end-to-end contest for the remainder of the first period but the scoreline remained level going into the break.
The second half saw both sides take a more cautious approach to the game, as Thoi Singh replaced Manuel Lanzarote. KBFC grew into the game and threatened on a few instances but Vishal Kaith stood firm in the CFC goal.
Isma Goncalves replaced Fatkhulo with 15 minutes to go as CFC went in search of a winner. However they were dealt a setback in the closing stages as Enes Sipovic was sent off after a second bookable offence, reducing CFC to ten men.
Pandiyan Sinivasan came on for Edwin Vanspaul in the dying embers of the game to make his Chennaiyin debut as they saw out proceedings to ensure a 1-1 draw.
RESULT: Chennaiyin FC 1 (Fatkhulo Fatkhulloev 10’) drew with Kerala Blasters FC (Gary Hooper 29’ (P))
