Epic on the cards as Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa spar in semis showdown

Chennai, February 29, 2020: With many dubbing it to be a clash worthy of the final, Chennaiyin FC welcome FC Goa in the semi-final first-leg of the Hero Indian Super League at the Marina Arena here on Saturday. Such has been the entertainment value of both teams that one can expect goals, drama and talking points in what promises to be a thrill-a-minute ride.

For Chennaiyin, who come into the semis on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run that includes six wins, the agenda is to take a lead without conceding, into the second leg in Goa a week later. And it will be task cut out for CFC skipper Lucian Goian and Brazilian defender Eli Sabia against a lethal Goa attack that includes Ferran Corominas (14 goals), Hugo Boumous (11 goals, 10 assists), Jackichand Singh (5 goals) and Brandon Fernandes (6 assists).

But it will be an equal if not greater challenge for the likes of Mourtada Fall and Carlos Pena at the other end in the Goa backline against a Chennaiyin attack that has scored 26 goals between them since Owen Coyle took over in December. Leading the line is Lithuanian marksman Nerijus Valskis (13 goals, 5 assists), with creator-in-chief Rafael Crivellaro (7 goals, 6 assists) and the support cast in Lallianzuala Chhangte (5 goals) and Andre Schembri (5 goals, 3 assists). And talented Indian midfielders Anirudh Thapa (5 assists) and Edwin Vanspaul, who recently received his maiden national camp call-up, are set to provide the perfect foil in the middle.

With Schembri almost back to full fitness, CFC gaffer Owen Coyle will have his full complement of players available barring Tondonba Singh who picked up a red card in the last league game. As for Goa, they will too be ready to fire on all cylinders as the Marina Arena in Chennai braces itself for a feast of football one last time this season.

With a record crowd for the campaign expected at Chennaiyin’s home ground, the Marina Machans will be banking on local support more than ever. Coyle will be looking to put one over his opponents who are the only team to beat him in Chennai. Despite getting the better of CFC twice in the league stages, Goa interim Head Coach Clifford Miranda admitted Chennaiyin were the team they wished to avoid in the semis.

With the focus heavily on both sides’ attacking prowess, the tie could very well be decided by defensive acumen. And with the away goals rule in effect for the semis, the defensive nous and game management of both teams will come to the fore. While a watertight backline has not really been the forte for either side, CFC ground out a classic 1-0 win away at Mumbai City FC to seal the semis spot which will give them confidence in their abilities. And they will have to dig deep in a similar manner against a relentless Goa team.

For Goa, along with Fall and Pena, Lenny Rodrigues and Ahmed Jahouh will be pivotal in the midfield role against the trickery and guile of Crivellaro. Lithuanian Valskis will be hungry to steal a march on his attacking counterpart Coro in the race for the Golden Boot, the latter raring to go after being rested in the NorthEast match on Tuesday.

In terms of head-to-head record in knockout ISL matches, Chennaiyin hold the upper hand, having beaten Goa comprehensively in the semis of the 2017-18 campaign. After a fighting 1-1 draw in Goa in the first leg in which Thapa scored, CFC completed the job with a 3-0 second leg victory in Chennai. Prior to that, the 2015 ISL final between both sides was won 3-2 by CFC in dramatic fashion with Colombian Stiven Mendoza scoring a late winner. So going into a third such encounter, Chennaiyin will be quietly confident.

But as is with such crunch clashes, past records and form more often than not mean little. Both teams will have to show up on the day and take the game by the scruff of the neck, with a second leg to play a week later. With a mouthwatering clash in the offing with mini-battles at every corner of the pitch, it sure promises to be an epic at the Marina Arena.