XtraTime Web Desk: Chennai City FC clinches a massive win over Shillong Lajong by 4-2 today at the JLN Stadium, Shillong to bolster their chances of winning the coveted Hero I-League title.
Chennai City started to attack right from the outset and picked up the first goal as early as in the seventh minute of the match. Spanish attacking midfielder Sandro Rodriguez broke the deadlock with a curling corner which beat Lajong goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa at the near post.
Soon after conceding the opening goal, the home team were hit by another blow as goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa had to leave the field with an injury as Neinthovilie Chalieu replaced him.
Lajong, though, came back strongly in the match after the double blow as they equalised in the 23rd minute. From a counter-attack, Mahesh Singh forwarded a through ball for Kitboklang Pale who went past his marker and found the back of the net beating Boerchio in the near post.
The attacking duo of Mahesh Singh and Pale combined brilliantly in the attacking third and came close to score again on a couple of occasions. The two youngsters kept the Chennai defenders on their toes for the entire first half.
Both teams looked desperate for a second goal as they went into attack right from the beginning. Akbar Nawaz introduced striker Ameeruddin Mohaideen in place of central midfielder Pravitto Raju at the hour mark.
Lajong missed the easiest chance of the match to score the second goal as Samuel Kynshi failed to score from a very close range. Kitboklang Pale squared the ball to Kynshi inside the box and Kynshi had just Mauro Boerchio to beat but his shot hit the near post and went out.
Much to Chennai’s relief, Pedro Manzi scored his 17th goal of the season to reclaim his team’s lead in the 78th minute. The Spaniard headed the ball into the net from Sandro Rodriguez’s curling free-kick.
Nestor Gordillo then netted the third goal in the 81st minute to seal the fate of the match. The Spanish winger headed the ball into the goal from Pedro Manzi’s cross.
Just when Chennai thought that they were running away with this game, they gave away a penalty to Lajong in the 84th minute as Josef Kaplan brought down Mahesh Singh inside the Chennai box. Samuel Kynshi converted the penalty to pull one back for the hosts.
But Pedro Manzi killed Lajong’s hopes of coming back into the match by scoring the fourth goal for the visitors in the 90th minute. After exchanging a brilliant one-two with compatriot Nestor, the striker found the back of the net. With his 18th goal, Pedro became the joint top scorer of the league with Willis Plaza.