Chennaiyin FC U-13s suffer first ever defeat in Chennai zone

Chennai: The Chennaiyin FC Under-13 team lost 1-0 to FC Madras in a 2018-19 Hero Sub-Junior League Chennai Zone away fixture at the FC Madras Arena here today. This was the CFC U-13s’ first defeat of the season, having won the opening three games without conceding a goal. It was also their first ever defeat in the Chennai zone after eleven consecutive wins across both campaigns, having qualified for the final round with a 100% record in their debut season last year.

The CFC U-13s will be aiming to get back to winning ways when they face Great Goals three days later on Sunday April 7, 2019 at the SSN College Ground with kick-off at 4 PM. Chennaiyin beat Great Goals by a 11-0 margin in the reverse fixture in their opening game last month.

Both sides came into this encounter with a 100% record so far this season. CFC were unchanged from the 7-0 win over Raman Vijayan Soccer School four days back, having named the same starting eleven in all their Hero Sub-Junior League matches this season.

FC Madras began the brighter of the two sides, pressing high up the pitch and forcing CFC into misplacing a few passes. Few chances fell the way of the hosts as a result but Chennaiyin defended resolutely. From a corner kick, FC Madras came close but for Mohammed Irfan, who cleared it off the goal-line.

Chennaiyin then started playing a few long balls, and as a result S. Varun Kumar and Ajay Kumar M. had a couple of half chances.

The CFC defensive line did well to hold off FC Madras in a goalless first period, especially central defenders S. Nagulan and Mohan Raj.

Chennaiyin began the second period on the offensive and won a couple of corner kicks, but nothing substantial came out of it.

FC Madras then took the lead in the minute through Surendran’s solo goal, who got the better of the CFC defenders and keeper with a mazey dribble.

Following the goal, CFC came hard at FC Madras and had a succession of chances near the opposition box. However, they were wasteful in front of goal.

Chennaiyin made changes in search of the equalizer, notably bringing on attackers Karan Chakravarthy and E. Kannan, who are in good goalscoring form. Kannan made an impact, getting a couple of one-on-one opportunities in the closing stages. However, the FC Madras keeper stood firm and denied the chances as CFC succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat.

Score: FC Madras U-13s 1 (Surendran S.T.) beat Chennaiyin FC U-13s 0