Resolute ten-man Chennaiyin FC salvage late draw at NorthEast; face FC Goa in semis

Guwahati, February 25, 2020: A never-say-die Chennaiyin FC team salvaged a 2-2 draw against NorthEast United FC in the final Hero Indian Super League match of the league phase here on Tuesday. An injury time strike from substitute Lallianzuala Chhangte earned CFC a point after a Martin Chaves double had seen NEUFC overturn Masih Saighani’s opener. CFC Left-back Tondonba Singh was sent off in the first period for an alleged last-man challenge on Ninthoi Meetei that led to the hosts’ equalizer from the spot.

Chennaiyin became the first ever ISL team to start a league match with 10 Indian players and with the result finished in 4th place following an eight-match unbeaten run that included six wins. This means that CFC finish the league phase with 29 points in 4th place and will face FC Goa in the semis, with the first leg in Chennai on Saturday February 29 followed by the return leg in Goa a week later on March 7.

With play-off qualification sealed and a number of key players a booking away from suspension, Head Coach Owen Coyle made wholesale changes and fielded a new-look CFC side led by custodian Karanjit Singh. Edwin Vanspaul reverted to the right-back position with Tondonba getting a start at left-back.

Former Indian Arrows defender Deepak Tangri started an ISL game for the first time, partnering versatile Afghan Masih Saighani in defence. In midfield, it was a first start in 2020 for local lad Dhanpal Ganesh, with Germanpreet Singh and Anirudh Thapa in the middle. Thoi Singh occupied the left flank.

The youthful look of CFC’s team on the night was completed by 20-year-old ISL debutant Reamsochung Aimol on the right with 19-year-old Rahim Ali leading the line.

With CFC finding their feet on a rainy night in Guwahati, the hosts saw more of the ball in the opening stages. It remained cagey till the visitors Chennaiyin took the lead in the 17th minute.

Tondonba’s long throw did the trick as Masih’s flick-on took a deflection and came back to him. The Afghan’s powerful snapshot rifled into the net despite getting a touch off keeper Sorem Porei.

NorthEast tried to hit back immediately but CFC stood firm at the back, Tangri marshalling the defence astutely with Masih. At the half hour mark, Thapa twisted and turned in the NEUFC penalty area, leaving Wayne Vaz for dead. But his shot was blocked by Jose Leudo.

With five minutes to go for half time, the biggest flashpoint of the game came about when the referee decided to award a contentious penalty and red card for Tondonba’s and Ninthoi’s coming together in the box. It looked like Ninthoi went down easily with contact also seemingly outside the box. To make matters worse, the referee brandished a red to Tondonba and invoked the double whammy.

Uruguayan forward Chaves stepped up and scored from the spot as both teams went into the break at 1-1.

With a man advantage, the home side threw everything at CFC in hope of ending their 13-match winless run. And the goal came in the 71st minute, that too a peach of a strike from Chaves, a stunning volley from the edge of the area following a corner.

Coyle rung in the changes and went for the equalizer with Chhangte, Laldinliana Renthlei and Jerry Lalrinzuala coming on for Ganesh, Edwin and Remi.

A combination of Karanjit and Tangri stopped NorthEast from putting the game to bed as the keeper saved from close range; followed by Tangri clearing Chaves’ shot off the line.

And that resilience paid off in the 93rd minute when Chhangte popped up on the right, receiving a pass from Germanpreet at the edge of the box and scoring with a strong shot into the bottom right corner to make it 2-2. This the Mizo winger’s fifth goal of what’s been an impressive campaign.

Chennaiyin return to base on Wednesday to prepare for the all-important semi-final first leg against FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Saturday February 29, 2020.