Football
ISL 2019: Chennaiyin FC and Mumbai City FC share spoils in a game of missed opportunities
Chennaiyin looked more dangerous in the final third attempting 18 shots but poor finishing and Amrinder’s brilliant save in the first minute could not affect the score line.
A contender for the most entertaining 0-0 in the history of Indian Super League was on cards on Diwali eve. Mumbai City and Chennaiyin came into the game with contrasting results in their last game but it was Chennaiyin who had more intent going forward.
Amrinder Singh started from where he left the last game. He was called into action in the very first minute when his magnificent save kept Mumbai in the game. It was all Chennaiyin in the first twenty minutes of the game and the Brazilian Rafael Crivellaro was involved in every attack they created. Within twenty minutes Chennaiyin attempted seven shots and they must have been thinking what they had to do to go past the Mumbai custodian.
Mumbai took the game under control once their nerves settled. They seemed in discomfort without their foreign centre-back Mato Grgic but once they weathered Chennaiyin’s storm, it was Chennaiyin’s defence who were called into action time and again. Amine Chermiti could have had a brace within five minutes but his poor decision and finishing eluded him to be on the score sheet.
Amine tried to be too cheeky on the first occasion when he tried to chip the ball over Vishal Kaith but put on a lot of power behind the shot. The next one should have been a cakewalk for a poacher of Amine’s quality. Raynier Fernandes whips in a brilliant cross from the right flank. Vishal dives out to punch the ball but fails to do so. Amine Chermiti lurking behind the keeper, couldn’t connect the header which saw the ball go well over the goalpost from 6 yards wide.
The game of missed chances continued when Rowlin Borges freed the substitute Serge Kevyn to be one on one with the goalkeeper but he strikes the ball wide of the goal. Mumbai then tried everything they had at their disposal but could not open their account for the day.
Second half was completely dominated by Chennaiyin. They started the second half by building a fluid attack from the back. A small interchange from Dragos Firtulescu and Crivellaro on the right flank put Crivellaro in a comfortable position to take a shot but his unselfish play saw the ball roll to a Mumbai defender to be cleared away.
Jorge Costa tried to influence the game with an attacking change bringing in Paul Machado for Raynier Fernandes. He looked to have impact on the game instantly. He provides a beautiful through ball to Serge Kevyn who hits it too close to the goalkeeper at the first go.
John Gregory, on the other hand, tried to play his own trump card by introducing the Lithuanian forward Nerijus Valskis. His move too seemed to work instantly but the night of poor finishing had an upper hand.
Lallianzuala Chhangte was a dynamite on Diwali eve. He ran up and down the field, twisting and turning to completely bamboozle the opponent defence. Sauvik Chakrabarti had a horrendous time in dealing with the future star, which resulted him being thrown out of the game in the injury time of the second half. Chhangte looks a completely different player when he is not playing for the national team. Igor Štimac, who was on the stands to witness the game must have been thinking what must be done to unleash the beast under his leadership.
It’s intriguing to see how the game ended scoreless. Chennaiyin looked more dangerous in the final third attempting 18 shots but poor finishing and Amrinder’s brilliant save in the first minute could not affect the score line.
