Chennaiyin FC held to frustrating goalless draw by 10-men SC East Bengal
Goa, January 18, 2021: Chennaiyin FC missed a glorious chance to break into the top four of the Indian Super League standings as they were held to a 0-0 draw by the ten men of SC East Bengal at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Monday night.
Ajay Chhetri was sent off at the half hour mark for the Red & Golds following two bookings, but Chennaiyin failed to take advantage in a performance that lacked cohesion. Debjit Majumder could not be beaten in the East Bengal goal as CFC succumbed to a fifth goalless result that left them sixth in the table with 15 points after 12 games.
It was a second draw between both sides in as many games, with the reverse fixture having ended 2-2 on Boxing Day last month. Edwin Vanspaul, who was brought into the Chennaiyin side by Head Coach Csaba Laszlo for Tajikistan winger Fatkhulo Fatkhulloev, began brightly on the right flank by winning a corner following decent link-up play with Portuguese forward Isma Goncalves.
Bosnian central defender Enes Sipovic had the best chance of the first half, when he headed over from close range after being picked out by fellow centre-back Eli Sabia following a set-piece.
A huge flashpoint in the game came on 30 minutes, when SCEB debutant Ajay Chhetri was sent off for a second bookable offence in eight minutes, after a rash tackle on Rahim Ali left the latter on the deck.
But it seemed like the sending off brought the rails off Chennaiyin instead, as the Marina Machans completely lost their momentum as SC East Bengal sat back and strategized to play on the break, fighting hard to cover the one-man deficit.
The man-advantage almost paid off in the closing stages of the first half though, when Thapa’s late run into the box was found by a Jerry Lalrinzuala through ball aided by Isma’s dummy. With Debjit off his line, Thapa stretched and poked the moving ball, that went just wide of an empty net as Narayan Das cleared it out for a corner.
The stretch left lasting damage on Thapa, who seemed to have pulled a muscle and was replaced by Jakub Sylvestr at the break.
The second period made for drab viewing as CFC failed to get off the blocks despite having one player more than their opponent on the pitch. Isma fashioned a curling shot from outside the box on 55 minutes but Debjit claimed it by diving to his right.
Enes Sipovic was the second CFC player to be replaced due to injury, when Deepak Tangri came on for him after the hour mark. Vishal Kaith having stood firm from an Anthony Pilkington shot moments earlier.
Chennaiyin tried hard for the remainder of the encounter but were scrappy for most parts. Jakub struck the side netting from a low Chhangte cross while the Mizo speedster himself drew out a save from Debjit with a powerful shot in the closing stages. Fatkhulo had a shot saved by Debjit in stoppage time.
Chennaiyin couldn’t break down a resolute SC East Bengal side as it finished goalless. The only positive from the clash for CFC being a fifth clean sheet of the season.
RESULT: Chennaiyin FC 0 drew with SC East Bengal 0
