Chennaiyin FC sink to narrow defeat as ATK Mohun Bagan score later winner
Goa, January 21, 2021: Chennaiyin FC were struck a hammer blow by a 90th minute David Williams goal for ATK Mohun Bagan at the Fatorda Stadium here on Thursday night. Csaba Laszlo’s team endured a momentary lapse of concentration from a corner as an unmarked Williams leapt highest and headed into the bottom corner out of CFC goalkeeper Vishal Kaith’s reach.
Anirudh Thapa was unavailable through injury, as Laszlo made two changes to the team that drew 0-0 against SC East Bengal two days back. Deepak Tangri came into midfield and Thoi Singh made his first start of the season on the right flank.
It was a measured and positive start from Chennaiyin, winning a flurry of throw-ins and corner kicks on the right flank. They managed to press high and pinch the ball off ATKMB’s midfielders on multiple occasions but couldn’t make anything of the chances.
At the other end, Vishal was called into action by a Javier Hernandez shot that was heading goalwards, the Himachal Pradesh goalkeeper slapping it away to safety.
As half-time approached, Chennaiyin continued to show grit and tenacity on all areas of the pitch in a game that was turning out to be a slow burner.
Just 30 seconds after the break, CFC had a glorious chance to take the lead. A Reagan Singh cross was punched by ATKMB GK Arindam Bhattacharja to Rahim Ali at the edge of the box, who pinged it back into the danger area. Thoi’s flick on though for Isma Goncalves was cleared by Sandesh Jhingan just as the Portuguese was shaping up to guide it into an empty net with Arindam stranded in no-man’s land.
A cagey game then sprung to life on 74 minutes when Vishal pulled out one of the goals of the season, springing far to his left to keep Hernandez’s free-kick which was headed for the top corner.
With stoppage time to go, Enes Sipovic conceded a corner kick from which CFC switched off for the first time in the game. Reagan belated came off the line towards Williams but couldn’t stop him in time as his strong headed found the back of the net.
Sipovic himself had the best chance to equalize in the fourth minute of added time, when he beat ATKMB keeper Arindam to the ball and headed it towards an empty net. However defender Tiri acrobatically cleared it off the line to preserve The Mariners’ lead and ensure their victory.
The result leaves CFC in sixth place with 15 points from 13 games. They are next in action against Mumbai City FC on Monday 25th January 2021 in a ‘home’ game at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim.
RESULT: ATK Mohun Bagan 1 (David Williams 90’) beat Chennaiyin FC 0
