Chennaiyin FC held to goalless draw by Odisha FC
Goa, January 10, 2021: Chennaiyin FC played out a 0-0 draw against Odisha FC at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Sunday evening in the Indian Super League. Forwards Jakub Sylvestr and Rahim Ali went close for CFC but were denied by Odisha keeper Arshdeep Singh and the goalpost, respectively. The result leaves Chennaiyin in eighth place with 11 points at the halfway stage of the league season.
Head Coach Csaba Laszlo made one change to the team, bringing in Tajikistan winger Fatkhulo Fatkhulloev for Deepak Tangri, meaning Memo Moura partnered Anirudh Thapa in midfield. Thapa made a milestone 77th outing for Chennaiyin, making him the outright highest appearance-maker for the club in all competitions, surpassing Jeje Lalpekhlua who had 76 to his name.
Chennaiyin could’ve been one up in the very first minute, when Rahim ran on to Fatkhulo’s long pass. The West Bengal forward however was unable to sort his feet out and take a shot, as Arshdeep gathered the ball.
Mizo winger Lallianzuala Chhangte had the game’s next real chance, when a shot from his weaker right foot went wide of Odisha’s left upright. After the 15-minute mark, Chhangte and Fatkhulo switched flanks, and the India international was involved again as he cut in to fire over from distance.
Halfway through the first half, inconsistent officiating came to the fore with referee Crystal John in the spotlight. He booked Enes Sipovic for a perfectly legitimate tackle on Odisha’s Jerry, and then minutes later let a blatant OFC handball go unpunished. Soon after, he fell victim to Odisha forward Diego Mauricio’s theatrics to caution CFC left-back Jerry after the former went down to minimal contact from the latter.
Mauricio had a goal disallowed for offside before CFC sprang to life in the closing stages of the first period. Rahim drew a diving save out of Arshdeep after he was set up by Jakub outside the area. A minute later, Jakub himself should’ve opened the scoring when he was picked out by right-back Reagan Singh’s low cross. The Slovakian’s deft flick was going goalwards from close range, only to be thwarted by Arshdeep’s flailing left foot.
Early in the second half, Chhangte had a snapshot hit the side netting after he ran on to a hopeful cross-field pass from Rahim. It was a cagey second half thereafter, as Portuguese forward Isma Goncalves came on for Jakub in the final quarter of the game.
The game’s best chance then fell to Rahim, as OFC defender Steven Taylor misjudged a Reagan cross into the box. Rahim was through on goal with just Arshdeep to beat, but the CFC No. 24’s effort unfortunately hit the near post and went out for a goal-kick.
Memo had a looping header go wide of the far post from substitute Edwin’s free-kick in stoppage time. That was as close as it got to an opener, as both teams settled for a grittily earned point.
Chennaiyin have the opportunity to do better in three days’ time on Wednesday January 13th when they face Odisha FC again in the reverse fixture at the same venue.
RESULT: Chennaiyin FC 0 drew with Odisha FC 0
