ISL 2018: Chennaiyin fights back to hold FC Goa

Two goals within the space of seven minutes from either side capped a gruelling game of football where neither team gave an inch to the opposition in the second semifinal of the ISL here on Saturday.

While host FC Goa was the slightly better team on the day, Chennaiyin once again came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw and will be the happier team taking home a crucial away goal advantage into the second leg on Tuesday.

First strike

It wasn’t until the 64th minute that the first goal of the semifinals came. Manuel Lanzarote sneaked in a deflection off Chennaiyin’s Anirudh Thapa, who blocked a shot from Ferran Corominas, to put the home side in the lead.

But within seven minutes, Chennaiyin scored when Gregory Nelson sent in a beautiful pass to Thapa who shot between the legs of the Goa custodian to equalise.

Earlier, it was an entertaining opening first half with end-to-end play. As promised by the Goa coach, the home side came out playing to its strengths and never relaxed for even a moment.

In the opening 20 minutes, Goa attacked strongly from the left flank with Mandar Dessai producing some threatening runs.

In the fourth minute, Dessai sent in a heavy cross to the far post, but it was too tough an ask for Corominas to complete it.

Immediately after, Dessai released Narayan Das who sent in a cross but



found no support.

Chennaiyin soon had its first chance of the day when Francisco Fernandes sent a cross to Jeje at the near post, but the India striker could not find the narrow angle and shot wide.

In the 12th minute, a long ball found Lanzarote, who got a very good first touch but Chennaiyin custodian Karanjit Singh and Malison Alves combined well to clear it.

Chennaiyin had another opportunity towards the end of the first half when Fernandes set up Nelson who could not find the far post.

Missed chances

In the second half, Chennaiyin had two golden chances within the first few minutes. However, Goa skipper and goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani did well on both occasions.

First, Alves sent in a long ball to Jeje who chested it before taking a shot with only the ’keeper to beat, but Kattimani did well to block it.

Soon, Nelson went past two defenders to get into a one-on-one with the custodian and tried to send it wide of him, but Kattimani stretched his left leg wide and blocked it.

While Goa looked more threatening whenever on the attack, at the end of the day Chennaiyin’s defence did well to withstand the pressure yet again even as both teams were made to work hard to find the net.

The result: FC Goa 1 (Manuel Lanzarote 64) drew with Chennaiyin FC 1 (Anirudh Thapa 71).