Chennaiyin FC edge past spirited FC Goa to reach third ISL final

Goa, March 7, 2020: Two-time Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC booked a spot in a third ISL final after beating FC Goa 6-5 on aggregate here at the Fatorda Stadium on Saturday. Despite Goa winning 4-2 on the night, CFC edged past their foes having won 4-1 in the first leg in Chennai last week.

A Lucian Goian own goal and Mourtada Fall header gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break but the visitors fought back in the second half and equalized through Lallianzuala Chhangte’s tap-in and Nerijus Valskis’ bullet header. Goa then made a late charge with Edu Bedia and Fall grabbing a goal apiece but fell short eventually as Chennaiyin got over the line to contest the final scheduled a week later on March 14 at the same venue.

CFC will be aiming to become the first team to lift three ISL titles when they face either Bengaluru FC or ATK FC who face off in the second semi-final in Kolkata on Sunday with BFC holding a 1-0 advantage from the first-leg. And the Fatorda also brings back fond memories of Chennaiyin’s maiden ISL triumph, beating FC Goa 3-2 in the 2015 edition’s memorable finale.

Despite four players on a yellow card and carrying a risk of missing the final, Owen Coyle named an unchanged starting eleven from the 4-1 win in the first-leg. Goa were boosted by the return of Brandon Fernandes and Hugo Boumous as Edu Bedia started from the bench.

With the home crowd cheering on their troops in full voice, Goa got off to the perfect start when CFC skipper Goian erroneously headed the ball into his own net from Jackichand Singh’s cross. The ISL League Winners came hard and doubled their lead through Fall’s header from a Brandon free-kick on 21 minutes.

Chennaiyin were failing at keeping hold of the ball, giving it away cheaply on multiple occasions in what was a forgettable first half. Midway through it, the hosts suffered a setback though as Boumous was stretchered off with an injury, replaced by Edu Bedia.

The Marina Machans were better from the restart but Goa still kept creating chances. Jackichand missed a huge opportunity on 48 minutes when Coro’s dummy saw the ball come to his feet inside the box with only Vishal Kaith to beat. However he failed to connect and the ball trickled into the keeper’s grateful arms.

Four minutes later, CFC’s grit shone with Chhangte tapping home a crucial away goal after Rafael Crivellaro’s shot was parried into the Mizo winger’s path by Goa keeper Mohammad Nawaz. The 22-year-old CFC No. 7 grabbed his seventh goal of the campaign and also became the first Indian player to score in both legs of an ISL semis.

And on the stroke of the hour mark, it was 2-2 on the night and 6-3 on aggregate to CFC when Valskis headed home his 14th goal of the season from a pinpoint Crivellaro corner. The goal giving Chennaiyin breathing space from Goa’s possible onslaught.

And the onslaught did come in the final ten minutes as the hosts scored twice in as many minutes, giving themselves a glimmer of hope. Defender Fall was playing as a striker, first setting up Edu Bedia’s goal and then scoring a second himself after confusion at the back for the visitors.

With the aggregate scoreline now reading 6-5 to CFC, Goa needed two more goals to win it with five minutes plus stoppage time left. Clifford Miranda’s side threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Owen Coyle’s men in the closing stages, with Fall coming incredibly close to a hat-trick and Vishal Kaith making a couple of crucial saves.

Eventually Chennaiyin held on to cap off a memorable turnaround in the last couple of months under Coyle that now sees them make a third ISL final in six years, awaiting either BFC or ATK in the grand encounter next Saturday.