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Chennaiyin FC takes away the all-important away goal

The Marina Machas will take an important away goal back to Chennai when they face off against the Gaurs on March 13.

ISL

Fatorda, March 10: Chennaiyin FC's substitute Anirudh Thapa cancelled out FC Goa's Manuel Lanzarote's second half opener in a tight first leg Indian Super League (ISL) semifinal.

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The Marina Machas will take an important away goal back to home in Chennai when they face off against the Gaurs on March 13 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Match stats | Preview

It was the home side, which had its co-owner and Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, watching the action, that started the match on the front foot and it did not take them long to register their first chance.

Mandar Rao Dessai evaded the challenge of two defenders down the left and crossed low towards Ferran Corominas but the Spaniard was not able to direct the ball goalwards.

Four minutes later, Edu Bedia almost threaded the ball through to an unmarked Mandar on the left, but Mailson Alves read the play well and intercepted.

On the other hand, the Marina Machas registered their 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 , cross the face of goal with Laxmikant Kattimani beaten.

The Gaurs had a good chance to take the lead in the 13th minute when Sergio Juste released Lanzarote with a sublime long ball. The Spaniard took the ball down beautifully but an advancing Karanjit Singh pushed him wide. However, he still managed to get a cross in towards Corominas, but the taller Gregory Nelson headed it away.

With time running out, neither side was able to break the deadlock before the break.

Chennaiyin came out all guns blazing in the second period and should have taken the lead twice within a minute after the restart but Kattimani made two excellent saves to deny Jeje and then got down low to stick a leg out to deny Gregory from a one on one position on the left.

The Gaurs began to get back in the game as time ticked on and started to dominate the ball again. It did not take them long to finally break 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 Corominas 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 their one goal lead though, the Gaurs 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 substitute Thapa on the right who took a touch and slotted it past Kattimani with ease as the visitors took away all-important away goal.

(Source: FC Goa Media)

Story first published: Saturday, March 10, 2018, 23:21 [IST]
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