CHAMPS GET BALL ROLLING

CHAMPS GET BALL ROLLING

Defending champions Chennaiyin FC rode on first-half goals from Hans Mulder and Mehrajuddin Wadoo to beat FC Goa City 2-0 recording their first win in the third edition of Indian Super League, here on Thursday evening.

The goals were scored in the 15th and 26th minute as Marco Materazzi's side now has four points from three games while last year's finalists FC Goa now has suffered three defeats in a row. The win took Chennaiyin to 5th position in the eight-team table while Goa are languishing at the bottom of the heap.

Chennaiyin FC manager Materazzi had told his boys that he wouldn't be around to guide them next season if they do not improve and qualify for the semi-finals.

However it was FC Goa which could have gone ahead when Fulganco Cardozo's long ball was bungled by goalkeeper Karanjit Singh but Reinaldo Oliveira couldn't stay on his feet falling inside the penalty box but referee thought otherwise.

The deadlock was broken in the 15th minute as Mulder collected a ball from Raphael Augusto just outside the box, kept his calm and placed the ball past a diving Goa goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani even before the defenders could react.

Chennaiyin made it 2-0 in the 26th minute, this time in fortunate circumstances. Skipper Mehrajuddin was looking to cross the ball inside the goalmouth but instead managed to get a wicked deflection off Goa defender Richard Dumas, which beat Kattimani under the Goa bar again.

FC Goa had their share of chances to claw their way back into the game but lacked sharpness. Rafael Coelho was the most likely player to score in the first 45 minutes. First the Brazilian striker's header from Joffre Gonzalez's cross sailed just wide and then he tried to pick the top corner from a narrow angle but the ball went wide in the 42nd minute.

In the second session, FC Goa chief coach Zico tried to change the equation with a flurry of attacking changes but Chennaiyin FC defended in numbers.

The hosts should have won by a much bigger margin had the strikers kept their cool. Davide Succi had a golden chance to make it 3-0 when Mulder's long overhead ball saw him within touching distance of the goal, only for Kattimani to get a touch.

Then Mulder found Baljit Sahni with another well-measured cross but the Indian striker could only hit the side-netting.

Mumbai take on Kerala

Kerala Blasters FC and Mumbai City FC may have to do without their captains for their next round battle in the Hero Indian Super League at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, on Friday.

Mumbai City captain Diego Forlan, who was influential in his team's first two victories, sat out of the last clash against NorthEast United FC and has not made the trip to Kerala.

"Diego hasn't travelled with the team. He is working hard on his recovery with our medical staff and we hope that we can have him back fully fit at the earliest," said Mumbai coach Alexandre Guimaraes.

Kerala Blasters have worries of their own. Cedric Hengbart, who captained the side in the last game but limped out midway through injury, has a battle on his hand to recover and declare himself fit for the crucial clash against Mumbai City.

"I don't know to be honest," Kerala Blasters coach Steve Coppell said when asked whether he can count on Hengbart's services for Friday's clash.

"We will wait till the last minute to check his fitness. After the injury (in the last game), I thought he wouldn't be available but he is such a warrior that he is working hard, rehabilitating and trying to make himself available for this match," said the Kerala Blasters manager.

Fortunately for the home side, marquee player Aaron Hughes, a sparkling presence in Northern Ireland's progress to the second round of Euro 2016, has completed his international assignments and is expected to return to the line-up.

Kerala Blasters have just a point from their first three matches and is the only team in the league to have not scored as yet, despite backing from approximately 55,000 supporters for each home game. Coppell said his players are trying hard and a change in fortunes could be just around the corner.

"The players fully understand the responsibility of trying to entertain these fabulous fans and the players went flat out to try and give them the victory that they desire. I personally feel we are very close (to winning). As a team, we are capable of winning five or six matches on the bounce," said Coppell.

Mumbai City FC have made an encouraging start to their league campaign this season. Yet unbeaten, Mumbai City have seven points from their first three matches and even though coach Guimaraes said he was targeting "nine points" from the first three matches, he has plenty to be happy about. 

 (The pioneer)