Chennaiyin’s pon‘goal’ gift

After an action-packed but goalless first half, Rafael Crivellaro’s wonder goal (57’) gave Chennaiyin the lead. Nerijus Valskis’s eighth goal of the season sealed the deal for the home side. The victory sees CFC rise to sixth on the table and stay in the hunt for a spot in the top-four. NorthEast, meanwhile, remains in the ninth spot and is now winless in seven games.

NEUFC’s new signing Andy Keogh could have given it a dream start in the very first minute when Martin Chaves played him through on goal. But the Irish striker’s effort was deflected for a corner by an onrushing Vishal Kaith. Chennaiyin also should have scored at the other end within minutes when Crivellaro played in Lallianzuala Chhangte through.

The latter opted to lay it off for Valskis whose shot cannoned off the crossbar. The shot showed a lot of confidence after that and dominated the opening period, creating plenty of chances. Andre Schembri went close a couple of times, Valskis missed a chance and Edwin Vanspaul saw a long-ranger beaten away by Subhasish Roy Chowdhury.

The pace of the game slowed down after the first 20 minutes and visitor started to see more of the ball. Central defender Mislav Komorski could have headed his side ahead when Keogh picked him out in the box after Chaves did well to keep a corner alive. But his header was kept out on the line by an alert Edwin.

At the other end, Chennaiyin continued to waste chances with Schembri the guilty party. He headed a corner wide from point-blank range before failing to tap in a ball across the face of the goal from Crivellaro. NorthEast started the second half with renewed vigour and the Chennaiyin defence had several nervous moments.

However, a moment of pure genius from Crivellaro turned the game on its head in the 57th minute. He picked the ball up near the half-way line, turned and saw Subhasish off his line. He went on to lash a left-footed effort that flew over the back-tracking NorthEast custodian’s head and into the goal.

Two minutes later, CFC’s joy was doubled. Schembri was sent through on goal only to see his shot blocked by Subhasish. But NorthEast did not clear the ball and it fell to Valskis on the edge of the box. He went on to lash a left-footer into the top corner to send the crowd into raptures.

A buoyant Chennaiyin could have added more gloss to its goal tally but for some close misses as a disheartened NorthEast was consigned to their fourth loss in the last five matches.