Chennai City FC blank Churchill Brothers for first I-League win

Goa, December 19: Churchill Brothers suffered their fifth straight defeat of the ongoing I-League season as they went down 0-2 to Chennai City FC at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco on Tuesday (December 19).

Goals from Jean Michael Joachim (45+1) and Murilo Ribeiro Almeida (52) helped Chennai City FC register their first win of the season, and outplay the Red Machines in their first home match.

45' Joachim delivers!
We finally have a goal and it has come from Joachim Junior who gets his 4th goal of this season. Israil Gurung failed to keep him tied down and but he didn't fail to put that past James and in the goal.#HeroILeague #CBvCCFC

— Hero I-League (@ILeagueOfficial) December 19, 2017

Churchill Brothers kicked things off when their in-form winger Nicholas Fernandes tried a shot from eight yards out that was blocked off in the third minute of the game.

But slowly, Chennai City started growing into the game as they began to keep the Churchill Brothers goalkeeper James Kithan busy.

Chennai City came agonisingly close to opening the scoreline when the Churchill Brothers defence made a hash of a clearance from a corner-kick and the ball found its way to striker Jean Michael Joaquim, who was about to pull the trigger but was closed down on time.

Chennai City looked more and more threatening as the game went on and Joachim should have scored from another opportunity.

The French forward was beautifully picked out in the six-yard box by a sumptuous Vanspaul cross. But the Frenchman shockingly scuffed his header while being just three yards in front of goal.

Chennai City kept creating chances and saw two efforts hit the post. Their captain Michael Susairaj was at the heart of their attacks.

The local boys for @ChennaiCityFC have been fantastic all season long. Great to see the likes of Soosai Raj & Edwin Vanspaul play with such flamboyance. Hope the first win isn't too far away #ILeague #HeroILeague

— Sriram Madhavan (@sriram_madhavan) December 19, 2017

Meanwhile, Kithan had to be alert again when Joachim laid off the ball to Murilo Ribeiro. He promptly closed Ribeiro down on time.

But they could do nothing as Chennai City deservingly broke the deadlock in additional time of first half when striker Joachim shrugged off Israil Gurung down the left channel and slide the ball past an onrushing Kithan from a tight angle. The striker took his tally to four goals for the season as the visitors went into half-time leading 1-0.

The moment Joachim Jr. gave @ChennaiCityFC the lead. #HeroILeague #CBvCCFC pic.twitter.com/vgEdy9RKU0

— Hero I-League (@ILeagueOfficial) December 19, 2017

Churchill started the second half well when Uttam Rai drew a save from Chennai City goalkeeper Uros Poijanec after a one-two with Eric Obinna.

But it was the team from Chennai who found the back of the net again seven minutes after resuming the proceedings.

51' GOAL!
Murilo strikes!
Goal early in second half for @ChennaiCityFC as Murilo cuts in from the right, bluffs Suraj and shoots towards the left of a diving James to score. @ChennaiCityFC lead by 2 goals now.
#HeroILeague #CBvCCFC

— Hero I-League (@ILeagueOfficial) December 19, 2017

Almeida received the ball inside the box down the right. The attacker took the ball on his favoured left foot and curled the ball into the far post as it hit the post and into the net.
Kithan could only look on as Chennai City led 2-0 in the 52nd minute.

Joachim had another chance when he had a free-header thanks to an inch-perfect cross from Romario, but the striker could not connect with the ball.

Churchill Brothers suffered another setback when they were down to 10-men when youngster Banpynkhrawnam Nongkhlaw picked up a second yellow card after a clumsy foul on Murilo in the 66th minute near the sideline.

Churchill brothers never looked to stage a fight-back and out of ideas whereas Chennai City were runaway winners.

Chennai City FC will be relieved now as they'll come back to their home in Coimbatore to face East Bengal on December 22.

Source: AIFF Media