Anirudh Thapa helps Chennaiyin FC earn draw

Chennaiyin FC will take an important away goal back to Chennai. It was the home side that started the match on the front foot and it didn’t take it long to register its first chance. Mandar Rao Dessai evaded the challenge of two defenders down the left and crossed low towards Ferran Corominas but the Spaniard wasn’t able to direct the ball goalwards.

At the other hand, Chennai registered its first chance of the match after Francis Fernandes got past Narayan Das easily and crossed it low towards Jeje Lalpekhlua. The Mizo trapped the ball, turned and shot but the ball fizzed past across the face of goal with Laxmikant Kattimani beaten. 

FC Goa had the bulk of the possession in the opening stages of this encounter and pressed forward at every opportunity. Goa finally broke the deadlock when Mandar skipped past Inigo Calderon in the 64th minute and put a dangerous low ball into the box which landed at the feet of Edu. The midfielder allowed Coro to take possession and he shot it towards the far post. The ball was blocked on the line, but Lanzarote reacted quickest to poke it home from close range to send Fatorda into a frenzy. Despite its one goal lead though, Goa continued to press the away side but Chennaiyin came right back into the game to take a massive advantage after Gregory caught the defence napping, ran through the midfield and passed it to Anirudh Thapa on the right who took a touch and scored.