Chennaiyin FC ease past NorthEast United as Rafael Crivellaro scores Goal of the Season contender

Chennai, January 16, 2020: Chennaiyin FC put in a dominant display to register a 2-0 victory of NorthEast United and move to sixth place in the Hero Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday. Rafael Crivellaro scored directly from near the halfway-line as Nerijus Valskis also added to his tally with a strike from distance. The win also meant back-to-back victories for CFC for the first time since March 2018.

Set to face Jamshedpur FC a week later at home, CFC now move to 15 points in sixth place and six points off Odisha FC in fourth place having played a game less. With Germanpreet Singh suspended, the versatile local lad Edwin Vanspaul started alongside Anirudh Thapa in midfield as Laldinliana Renthlei slotted in at right-back. Another fan-favourite in Dhanpal Ganesh was back in contention from the bench.

It was all action from the first minute, as new NEUFC signing Andy Keogh went close but for CFC keeper Vishal Kaith’s timely save off his line. The former Irish international was through on goal from Martin Chaves’ pass but Kaith did well to make himself big.

Lallianzuala Chhangte drew Subhashish Roy Chowdhury into a comfortable save at the other end minute later from the left flank. Lithuanian striker Valskis should’ve put CFC ahead on five minutes when Chhangte squared the ball to him with the goal gaping, only for the shot to rattle off the crossbar.

It was all Chennaiyin going forward as Edwin got into the act. Receiving the ball 30 yards out, he unleashed a fierce half-volley that stung the palms of Roy. The link-up play between CFC’s midfield and frontline was exquisite as Maltese forward Andre Schembri then went agonizingly close to open the scoring on three separate occasions.

After good work by Edwin and Rafael, Thapa found himself in space inside the NEUFC box. His low fizzed pass for Schembri was flicked just wide of the near post. Minutes later the ball looped off defender Kai Heerings into Schembri’s path inside the six-yard box but his header was pouched by Roy. Then from a Thapa corner, Schembri guided his header just wide of the far post.

The visitors kept the CFC defence at their toes with skipper Lucian Goian and Eli Sabia having to be at their very best. Lucian especially made some crucial blocks, especially one off the line from Mislav Komorski’s header just past the half-hour mark.

CFC went into the break wondering how they weren’t ahead. The hosts came out in resurgent mood, attacking from the word go. Edwin, who put in an impressive shift in the middle, again went close with a curling effort from outside the box that went just wide. At the other end, Keogh and Fede Gallego drew a couple of smart saves out of the alert Kaith.

It was a moment of magic from Rafael in the 57th minute that broke the deadlock. The Brazilian looked up from near the halfway line and spotted Roy off his line, unleashing an inch-perfect shot that arrowed into the back of the net. An absolute worldie and a Goal of the Season contendor, his fourth goal in four games. The strike sending Coyle, the CFC bench and the entire stadium into raptures.

There was no respite for NEUFC as CFC doubled their lead two minutes later. Valskis found Schembri with a delightful lob, which the latter fired straight at Roy. Heerings instead of clearing it, passed it straight back to Valskis who struck a left-footed drive that flew into the top corner with Roy stuck to the spot. In contention for the Golden Boot, Valskis netted his eighth goal of the campaign.

NEUFC had no idea what had hit them as CFC turned on the style. It was magical link-up on show as Rafael and Valskis combined before setting up Chhangte in the box, whose exquisite first touch created space for the shot which went just over the crossbar.

Rafael again stung Roy’s gloves with a volley on 71 minutes after Valskis’ flick-on. The tireless Thapa then found himself in the six-yard box, sending his header over after Chhangte had done well to find him.

Dragos Firtulescu then came on for Schembri in the final quarter of the game. Kaith & Co. were determined to keep a clean sheet, the Himachal Pradesh goalkeeper making a superb save from substitute Ninthoi’s long-ranger, tipping it onto the post.

Manipuri winger Thoi Singh then came on for Man of the Match Rafael Crivellaro in the closing stages, who departed to a standing ovation from the crowd. Thoi had a chance to score immediately, freed by Valskis. Thoi was through on goal, but his shot was straight at Roy from close range.

NEUFC tried to pull one back in the last minute of stoppage time through Martin Chaves’ free-kick but Kaith was equal to it, tipping it onto the upright at full-stretch to preserve the clean sheet.