Chennaiyin FC dash Mumbai City’s semi-final hopes with 3-0 win

Chennaiyin FC kept their chances of making the 2015 Hero Indian Super League semis alive after a 3-0 win against Mumbai City FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday evening. Stiven Mendoza opened the scoring for the Super Machans before strikes from Jeje Lalpekhlua and Bernard Mendy sealed all three points for the southern-outfit as Mumbai’s remote chances of making the semis came to an end.

Both sides had to deal with tricky conditions as the rains hammered down ferociously in Chennai, making it difficult for the players to play their natural game on a drenched pitch. Mendoza, however, was unfazed by everything around him after Zakeer Mundampara played him through on goal for the Colombian to score with just nine minutes on the clock.

The Super Machans made it 2-0 eight minutes later when Thoi Singh guided Dhanachandra Singh’s cross straight into Lalpekhlua’s path for the 24-year-old to score his third goal in his last two games.

Mendoza nearly made it 3-0 soon after but for Mumbai goalie Subrata Paul, who managed to apply enough pressure to put off Hero ISL’s top-scorer this season. The Colombian was causing havoc for Mumbai’s defence and set up Thoi Singh near the half hour mark with another brilliant pass. Singh’s shot though failed to test the keeper as the score remained at 2-0.

Chennai had another golden opportunity to get their third goal three minutes before half-time when Mendoza was played through with just the keeper to beat. Paul once again came to Mumbai’s rescue to deny Mendoza his second of the night.

When they did eventually get their third, it came from one of the unlikeliest of sources in Mendy who scored his second of the season. Thoi Singh once again threaded through a picture-perfect pass which Mendy ran onto before chipping it over Paul to make it 3-0 at the stroke of half-time.

The visitors made a brighter start to the second half with Sony Norde forcing Apoula Edel into a save. Norde then set up substitute Selim Benachour in the 64th minute but the Tunisian sent his effort high above Chennai’s crossbar.

Norde tested Edel once again 12 minutes from full-time but the Armenian keeper was alert to the danger as he saved the Haitian’s initial effort before clearing the ball with his feet to keep his clean-sheet. The last chance of the game fell to Sunil Chhetri who rattled Chennai’s post as the game ended 3-0.

MATCH AWARDS

Club Award – Chennaiyin FC

Swift Moment of the Match – Stiven Mendoza [Chennaiyin FC] (Watch here)

Amul Fittest Player of the Match – Sony Norde [Mumbai City FC] 

DHL Winning Pass [Chennaiyin FC] – Elano

ISL Emerging Player of the Match – Thoi Singh [Chennaiyin FC]

Hero of the Match – Bernard Mendy [Chennaiyin FC]

ISL 2015: NorthEast United vs FC Pune City - Preview

NorthEast are placed fourth on the table with 17 points from 13 matches.

Guwahati: NorthEast United FC and FC Pune City will be still eyeing Indian Super League(ISL) semi-finals qualifications when they play against each other here on Wednesday despite being in discomforting positions.

Both NorthEast United and FC Pune City find themselves in a similar do-or-die situation of making it to the play-offs but both teams are keeping faith in their abilities.

NorthEast are placed fourth on the table with 17 points from 13 matches. With Atletico de Kolkata, FC Goa and Delhi Dynamos already qualifying for the semis, there is only a lone spot available for grabs. NorthEast have only one match in hand and will have to hope that other results go their way even if they win that match.

FC Pune City are in a slightly better position. They are sixth with 15 points but have two matches in hand. Win in the next two games will inch closer to the qualification for the last-four stage. But Pune have not won any of their six away matches played so far and are also winless in the last six matches.

"It's true that we had a big possibility in the last game but we let it slip through our hands. But it is also true that we still have a possibility. It's not impossible. You have got to keep going and concentrate on what's coming up next," NorthEast United coach Cesar Farias said during the pre-match media briefing here on Tuesday.

"We’ll fight till we have the slightest of chances to make it. These are big games and a win can make all the difference for us. It’s a big game and necessary (to win) for both teams. We will have to risk a lot of things," said Farias.

Pune FC coach David Platt said his team is looking forward to the game and said they are only thinking about a win.

"Now we know where we are and what we need to do. It’s still in our own hands, we depend on our own results. It's about looking forward to this game rather than looking back to the last one," said Platt.

Pune City lost against Atletico de Kolkata 1-4 in the last match.

"It’s gone, nothing that we can do about it. When you concede so many goals, you cannot win games. It’s goals that change games,” said Platt.

Platt said midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh is suspended for the crucial clash while defender Gouramangi Singh is ruled out of the tournament with an injury.