Internet Desk: Chennaiyin FC beat two time Indian Super League Champions in a nail biter by 3-2. India’s star striker Jeje Lalpekhlua was the hero of the match as his brace helped the home side to beat the defending champions in Chennai today. The other goal was scored by Inigo Calderon. The defending champions bounced back twice in the game from behind but they finally lost the plot in the last minute of the game.
Zequinha and Njazi Kuoi scored the two gals for the visitors. Recovering from an injury Irish legend Robbie Keane too came in as substitute for ATK at the 60th minute of the game but he too couldn’t help his team to win their first game in this tournament.
After facing it’s second loss of the tournament, ATK is holding the last spot of the table.
The fast-paced action and flurry of goals in the second session was in sharp contrast to the first when both teams took their time to judge each other’s tactics, creating chances few and far between. The teams had a look at the rival goal but never looked threatening enough.
The floodgates were opened in the 65th minute by Jeje who scored an opportunistic goal as a short corner from Chennaiyin FC saw captain Sereno rise high to nod home, only for the ball to hit the post and rebound back where Jeje was available to nod home.
ATK fought back through Zequinha whose low effort from close range and a crowded defence sailed past goalkeeper Karanjit Singh for the equaliser.
Chennaiyin FC again shot ahead, this time through Calderon’s strike that took a huge deflection off defender Tom Thorpe and wrong-footed goalkeeper Debjit Majumder.
For the second time in the game, ATK equalised. In the 89th minute, Robbie Keane, making his ISL debut at the hour mark, played it for Kuqi, whose initial shot was blocked by Karanjit but the Finnish striker made no mistake with his second effort.
Just when it seemed this was ending in a stalemate, Jeje proved everyone wrong with a goal in the first minute of added time, much to the delight of the home supporters.