ISL 2015: Indiscipline and three other factors that cost Chennaiyin FC the game against FC Goa

Chennaiyin were pedestrian both in the attack and the defence in the 2-0 defeat against FC Goa. Here are four factors that made the loss inevitable Lack of Discipline: Chennaiyin FC players have received the most number of Yellow (23) and Red (2) cards so far this season. They also have the second most ‘Fouls Committed’ at 111 totally. From the first minute, the Chennaiyin players went hard on their tackles. Initially, the harrying was more about pressing the opposition players. But from the foul that led to the first penalty, the fouls from Chennaiyin started to flow in frustration, ultimately culminating in Harmanjot Khabra’s horrendous tackle on Leo Moura. He deserved the red. Chennaiyin simply lacked the composure to get back into the game. [caption id=“attachment_2497466” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Elano’s drop in form is one reason that Chennaiyin lost. ISL[/caption] Defensively Unorganised: Eight penalties conceded in as many matches continues the pre-season defensive form for Chennaiyin. Chennaiyin conceded five in Perugia. On Thrusday, in both cases, the penalties were a result of the defence being caught unawares. The first was when Bernard Mendy and Alessandro Potenza tried to maintain a high line for a clearance despite two Goa strikers lurking around to pounce on a mistake. The second came after Potenza tried to pass out of the defense rather than simply clearing. Fikru Junior in the starting eleven: The tall striker who has joined from Atletico de Kolkata, simply is a misfit at the front of the Chennaiyin attack. Chennaiyin thrive on passing and movement in the final third of their attack, while Fikru thrives on long balls directed at him. His touch seems to have totally deserted him as many a move kicked off by the rest of the team, came to nothing when it found the feet of Fikru. Chennaiyin failed to score at home for the first ever time in the Indian Super League (ISL). Profligate Elano: The dead-ball specialist was the top scorer in the ISL last year. But he has found the wall this year as regularly as he found the net in the last season. In eight matches, he has only three goals, 2 two of them from penalties and none from a freekick. It has become more frustrating for the fans as he seems to find the first man of the opposition in the corners as well. Even if some of his one touch play with Thoi Singh, Raphael Augusto and Stiven Mendoza was pleasing on the eye, the final ball eluded him on the day.