Four-goal burst makes it memorable leap for CFC

Similar to the doodle that Google put out for leap year day, the 17,000-odd supporters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium jumped in joy after full-time.

The reason behind their bundle of happiness was Chennaiyin FC, which crushed FC Goa 4-1 in the Indian Super League 2019-20 semi-final first leg here on Saturday. Captain Lucian Goian (54’), Anirudh Thapa (61’), Eli Sabia (77’) and Lallianzuala Chhangte (79’) got a goal apiece in a sensational second half display.

Goa, missing the influential Hugo Boumous and Brandon Fernandes due to illness, was battered and bruised but nicked an away goal in the 85th minute, courtesy super substitute Saviour Gama. With a three-goal cushion, Chennaiyin firmly sits in the driver’s seat heading into the final leg, slated at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa on March 7.

In the opening period on Saturday, Chennaiyin repeatedly made forays into the rival box but took 16 minutes to carve out a clear-cut chance. Rafael Crivellaro produced a right-footed shot to test Goa goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz, who without much fuss averted the danger.

Three minutes later, the Brazilian was once again in the thick of things. Crivellaro blazed a free-kick over the bar after Edwin Sydney Vanspaul was brought down a few metres outside the 18-yard-box. As the first half wore on, the intensity dipped, with the away side getting its first real opportunity in the 35th minute.

On a counter-attack, Ferran Corominas, Manvir Singh and Seriton Fernandes linked up well but Vishal Kaith was alert to the situation, deflecting the full-back’s effort with a finger-tip save. In the 43rd minute, the host came so close to scoring when Nerijus Valskis’s set-piece strike took a coated paint after kissing the outside of the post.

Despite a few openings, both teams went into the breather without disturbing the scoresheet. CFC, re-energised after the half-time break, passed the ball with purpose for the entirety of the second half, where it decimated the Goa defence.

Having been on the front foot, the home side broke the deadlock in the 54th minute via Goian. In keeping with the name of the day – leap – the central defender rose the highest to get on the end of a Crivellaro delivery. Following the move, the skipper planted a header past the onrushing Nawaz to ripple the net.

As soon as the clock hit the hour mark, Thapa made the Marina Arena go berserk, thanks to a Golazo from outside the box. The young midfielder unleashed a stunner into the top right corner and registered his name on the board for the first time this season.

Sabia tripled Chennaiyin’s lead in the 77th minute by ghosting into the box, poking home a delicious Valskis cross from the left.

Within the blink of an eye, CFC made it 4-0 through Chhangte. This time around, Thapa turned creator as the winger rifled the ball in with a sumptuous hit. Just when it looked like the host would come away with a clean sheet, Gama gave Goa a glimmer of hope with a consolation goal five minutes from time.