Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
Related Articles
Chennaiyin FC extended their unbeaten run to four games after a 0-0 draw against ATK Mohun Bagan at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Tuesday evening.
Chennaiyin FC fashioned the better opportunities in an intense tactical battle, but ATK Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja was equal to it, making notable saves to keep out the Marina Machans. The result takes Chennaiyin FC to double digits in seventh place, as they now have 10 points from eight games.
Reagan Singh returned at right-back after serving a one-game suspension, having amassed four yellow cards. Deepak Tangri made way to the bench.
Chennaiyin FC began brightly, going close on two occasions in the opening ten minutes. Slovakian striker Jakub Sylvestr’s delightful through ball saw skipper Rafael Crivellaro break the offside trap, only with Arindam to beat. His low shot though was saved by the custodian from close range.
Minutes later, Crivellaro found Mizo speedster Lallianzuala Chhangte in space. The Chennaiyin FC No. 7 took a touch and fired his shot low Arindam’s left, whisker away from the far post.
At the other end, ATK Mohun Bagan strikers Roy Krishna and David Williams were keeping defenders Eli Sabia and Enes Sipovic on their toes with their mobility. On 20 minutes, Krishna had a half-chance after a deflection saw his effort from close range find the side netting.
A tactical battle was playing out between Csaba Laszlo’s and Antonio Habas’ troops, as Chennaiyin FC’s lively attacking play was being quelled by ATK Mohun Bagan’s defence. The visitors were always a threat on the break, but a gritty display from Brazilian midfielder Memo Moura along with India international Anirudh Thapa provided the perfect foil to the defensive partnership of Eli and Sipovic behind them.
Into the second half, it was more of the same as Chennaiyin FC came at ATK Mohun Bagan through Chhangte in the 50th minute. A long punt from goalkeeper Vishal Kaith found him in space on the left, as Chhangte sped forward and unleashed a low drive that was just tipped wide by Arindam.
Just past the hour mark, Pronay Halder went into the book for Habas’ side after a rugby-style tackle on Crivellaro took out the latter. The Chennaiyin FC captain tried to run off the knock, but he had to be replaced by Deepak Tangri soon after.
Memo called Arindam back into action with a quarter of the game to go, firing a rocket of a free kick that was tipped over by the latter. With ten minutes to go, Arindam pulled out arguably the save of the night when he barely got fingers to Reagan’s powerful strike from the right, that was going in at the bottom corner.
At the other end, Eli and Enes saw off a late charge from ATK Mohun Bagan to preserve a third clean sheet of the season as the game ended 0-0 as both sides bid farewell to 2020 with a draw.
