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60’ Chennaiyin 2-0 Goa (Agg: 3-1) A lull period in the game. Goa are being thwarted by a stubborn Chennaiyin defence. The visitors are losing their cool a bit. Ferran Corominas sees yellow card as he argues a foul. Goa need something quickly Preview: Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa will battle it out in the second leg of their second semi-final of the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday as they look to join Bengaluru FC in the final. In the first leg in Fatorda, Goa and Chennaiyin played out a 1-1 draw, with the former champions earning a crucial away goal. Anirudh scored for Chennaiyin after Manuel Lanzarote had put the hosts in the lead. [caption id=“attachment_4388793” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Chennaiyin will look to make most of home advantage when they face FC Goa in the second leg of semi-finals in Chennai. Image Courtesy: ISL[/caption] However, Chennaiyin chief coach John Gregory said that they will not be complacent over the “minimal advantage”. “It was a hard-earned draw for us. Goa play their passing, possession-based football and as opponents, we worked hard to get the ball back. The away goal we got is a minimal advantage. If tomorrow the game finishes 0-0, we are through,” Gregory said at the pre-match press conference. “But we know that this is football - anything can happen. Several permutations can come up during the match and we are prepared for it. We both know each other’s game. We are fired up and ready to go.” Gregory said that right-back Inigo Calderon who picked up an injury to his right calf, will be fit for the clash. “He is a tough guy. He got a tough tackle which injured his right calf but he continued to play on and he will be ready tomorrow,” the coach said. Calderon will complete the back-four of Mailson Alves, Henrique Sereno and Jerry Lalrinzuala, who will have the responsibility of stopping the powerful Goa attack. Gregory will also hope that his attacking line-up, that includes a struggling Jeje Lalpekhlua, will come up with the goals. In the other camp, midfielder Hugo Boumous’ return to fitness is a big boost to the visitors. It will be interesting to see the midfield combination that coach Sergio Lobera opts to go with. Pronay Halder has proved his value to the side with some astonishing performances from midfield alongside Ahmed Jahouh. It will be a toss-up between Edu Bedia and Hugo for the attacking midfield role. Brandon Fernandes is also back from injury and Lobera will have a selection headache as he will have to choose either Mandar Rao Dessai or Brandon to occupy one wing while Manuel Lanzarote looks certain to start on the other flank. Lanzarote (13 goals) and Ferran Corominas (18 goals) are the tournament’s deadliest attacking pair and Goa will need them again to go through. Even if Chennaiyin have the away-goal advantage, Lobera is not reading too much into it and believes his wards will pull it off. “We are facing a tough team. (But) we need to play the way we have done so far in the tournament. We are the highest scoring team in the competition and we have the highest scoring players as well,” he said. “The style of football we employ definitely puts us at a risk of conceding but at the other end, we are capable of scoring against any team. I would definitely take another 3-2 victory over here in Chennai like we did on the first match day (during the league phase).” Going back to the history of the season, in the league stage, both teams have defeated each other once. In the first leg, Goa edged past Chennaiyin 3-2 and in the return leg, Chennaiyin beat Goa 1-0. Sergio Juste and Chinglensana Singh have been excellent in defence and should be in contention to start despite both, Bruno Pinheiro and Ali Mohammad passing fitness tests. Seriton Fernandes has been an unsung hero in what has largely been a fantastic campaign for the side and he will walk back into the team. Narayan Das looks likely to start at left back. With inputs from IANS
Highlights, ISL 2018 Semi-final 2nd leg, Chennaiyin FC vs FC Goa: Chennaiyin reach final after 4-1 aggregate win
Catch Live score and updates from 2nd leg of the second ISL semi-final between Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Chennai.
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Indian gaffer congratulates the winners!
Bengaluru FC, they’re coming for you!
Chennaiyin have admirers in rival ranks
Chennaiyin into the final!
FT: Chennaiyin 3-0 Goa (Chennaiyin win 4-1 on aggregate)
Chennaiyin into the final. What a performance from John Gregory’s side. They have outclassed FC Goa in this semi-final second leg to deservedly win a place in the final. Weathering an early storm, Chennaiyin never looked back after their first goal. Jeje stepped up when it mattered the most, but it was the back four and the goalkeeper that gt them through. Great tactical discipline from Chennaiyin throughout the evening.
FC Goa were poor in defence and ran out of ideas in the second half. A good season for The Gaurs, but not enough to warrant a place in the final
90’ Chennaiyin 3-0 Goa (Agg: 4-1)
GOAL! JEJE LALPEKHLUA scores! It’s certainly all over now. Sloppy play from Goa again that allows Gavilan to pick up the ball and find Jeje, albeit a bit fortuitously, but Jeje makes the most of his luck
GREGORY NELSON!
Gregory Nelson, a fan favourite here in Chennai gets a tremen response after getting substituted. Fair to say he had good game, playing a vital role in counter-attacks.
87’ Chennaiyin 2-0 Goa (Agg: 3-1)
SAVE! Karanjit Singh with an excellent save to deny Lanzorate from the free-kick. Chennaiyin are almost there. That was a chance for FC Goa, but Karanjit has denied all attempts of a comeback
81’ Chennaiyin 2-0 Goa (Agg: 3-1)
19,013 is the attendance. Chennaiyin have been well-supported tonight
78’ Chennaiyin 2-0 Goa (Agg: 3-1)
Gaps appearing in Goa’s defence now as they chase the game. Goa’s shoulders are starting to drop. There is no drop in intensity from Chennaiyin though as Gavilan comes on for Raphael Augusto
Chennaiyin fans having a good time out there
Chennaiyin fans sang a version of Toure brothers chant when youngster Anirudh Thapa came in. “Thapa..Thapa..Thapa..Thapa… Anirudh Thapa!”
70’ Chennaiyin 2-0 Goa (Agg: 3-1)
Anirudh Thapa who scored the all-important away goal for Chennaiyin Goa comes on for Bikramjit Singh who has put in a shift
65’ Chennaiyin 2-0 Goa (Agg: 3-1)
Ali, Sifneos coming ON for FC Goa. Lobera is going for the jugular. He has played all three of his substitutions. Those on the field have to pull FC Goa back into the contest now. No reinforcements available
60’ Chennaiyin 2-0 Goa (Agg: 3-1)
A lull period in the game. Goa are being thwarted by a stubborn Chennaiyin defence. The visitors are losing their cool a bit. Ferran Corominas sees yellow card as he argues a foul. Goa need something quickly
FC Goa change. Sergio Lobera going for it now. Gets a winger in place of a defender
55’ Chennaiyin 2-0 Goa (Agg: 3-1)
Chennai defending very well. Goa have upped the ante, but the Chennaiyin rearguard is up to the task. They can sense the final and there seems to be a determined look about them right now. Goa will have to work very hard to open a disciplined defence in this second half
50’ Chennaiyin 2-0 Goa (Agg: 3-1)
The tone is set. Goa with the greater chunk of possession. Chennaiyin keeping a disciplined shape. Ferran Corominas with a chance but Mailson blocks his shot. Chennai must be careful to not sit too deep and allow Goa to gain momentum
47’ Chennaiyin 2-0 Goa (Agg: 3-1)
Second half underway in Chennai.
Goa need to score twice without reply. Chennai need to just keep going
Chennai in control at the interval!
HT: Chennaiyin 2-0 Goa (Agg: 3-1)
Chennai in the driver’s seat after a spirited first half. Goa after good start let them down with some poor defending. The visitors need two goals with conceding to advance to the final. Chennai just need to keep their heads
45’ Chennaiyin 2-0 FC Goa (Agg: 3-1)
1 minute of stoppage time added at the end of the first half
Dhanapal Ganesh’s goal. Poor defending from Goa
40’ Chennaiyin 2-0 FC Goa (Agg: 3-1)
The two goals seem to have knocked the stuffing out of FC Goa. Their early start is a thing of the past. Chennaiyin are on the front foot. Goa have to pick themselves up quickly or this game could be out of their reach
Jeje’s goal!
34’ Chennaiyin 2-0 FC Goa (Agg: 3-1)
Chennaiyin’s game plan has worked wonders for them. They allowed Goa to dominate and relied on counter-attacks and set-pieces to make an impact. For their second goal, Dhanpal Ganesh jumps the maximum to head the ball in from a set-piece. Goa’s defence has been awful so far.
Dhanapal Ganesh continues his dream season!
JEJE ends his drought!
And the Mizo sniper strikes with head to give Chennai the lead. Huge roar of applause with the Chennai fans chanting “Jeje…Jeje”. He broke his six-game goal drought.
29’ Chennaiyin 2-0 FC Goa (Agg: 3-1)
GOAL! Dhanapal Ganesh doubles Chennai’s lead. Another header, another poor piece of defending from FC Goa allowing Ganesh to head home from close range at the far post from a free kick on the right flank. Chennai on fire
25’ Chennaiyin 1-0 FC Goa (Agg: 2-1)
GOAL! Jeje Lalpekhlua ends his goal drought and what a time to do so. Jerry’s cross finds an unmarked Jeje in the box who just guides the home past naveen Kumar.
20’ Chennaiyin 0-0 FC Goa (Agg: 1-1, Chennaiyin ahead of away goals)
Better from Chennai in the last few minutes. A bit more desire to close down the Goa players. They need to take the sting out of this quick Goan start. More of this needed to achieve that. Crowd too starting to get behind their team.