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The Chennaiyin FC Under-15 team played out a 0-0 draw against FC Madras Under-15s in the 2018-19 Hero Junior League – Chennai zone at the FC Madras Arena in Thoraipakkam today. Both teams had clear cut opportunities to score but the cutting edge in the final third was lacking. With this result, both the group games between these two sides have finished goalless this season.
Chennaiyin FC opted to make three changes to the side that beat Great Goals 3-0 in their previous encounter. Rahul Manjula, Caron Kennedy and Mohammed Liyaakath came in for N. Sivamani, Harsha Vardhan R.S. and K. Suriya.
Both sides cancelled each other out for large periods of the first half. The game’s first big chance fell the way of FC Madras, who struck the Chennaiyin FC crossbar with a thumping effort in the opening ten minutes.
Few minutes later it was Chennaiyin FC’s turn to find the FC Madras woodwork. Rahul Manjula’s swerving free-kick found the upright, nearly giving Chennaiyin FC the lead.
Both the teams were well-balanced and comfortable in possession in an evenly contested first period. While FC Madras were wayward with their efforts after getting into good positions, Chennaiyin FC were not clinical enough in front of goal.
Chennaiyin FC striker S. Yugan, their joint top-scorer so far this season with three goals along with Mohamed Liyaakath, had the best opportunity of the half when he went one-on-one with the FC Madras keeper. The attacker though only managed to conjure up a meek attempt that went straight to the opposition custodian.
The second period too was played much like the first, on an even keel. Chennaiyin FC decided to make a few changes, as the more defensive Vignesh Kumar replaced Sathish Kumar in midfield. There was then a like-for-like change in attack as Yugan made way for K. Suriya. The third substitution Chennaiyin FC made was Harsha Vardhan coming on for Rahul.
Liyaakath arguably had the best chance in the second half to break the deadlock. He was found in the box after some good interplay, as he let fly towards the bottom corner. The keeper managed to get his fingertips to it and pushed it onto the post.
In the closing stages, Chennaiyin FC made yet another change as Naveen Kumar replaced Liyaakath. Chennaiyin FC almost conceded in the dying embers of the game after a defensive error, however FC Madras failed to capitalize, sending their effort wide.
