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Vafa Hakhamaneshi’s second-half strike proved to be enough as Chennaiyin FC edged past East Bengal FC 1-0 in an ISL match at the Saltlake Stadium on Friday. The Thomas Brdaric coached-side, thus, returned to winning ways after having lost their previous game to FC Goa. The crucial away win also helped Chennaiyin FC climb to fifth in the table with seven points from four games.
In what proved to be an exciting encounter, both sides were reduced to 10 men, with Vafa and East Bengal’s Sarthak Golui seeing red cards each. But Chennaiyin FC coach Brdaric would be happy with the way his team performed as they kept the first clean sheet of the season. In fact, the last time that Chennaiyin FC had kept a clean sheet was back in January early this year when they beat Jamshedpur FC 2-0.
The goal was also Vafa’s first goal in the tournament. The tall Iranian defender headed home an Akash Sangwan corner in the 69th minute. Apart from Vafa, Chennaiyin FC captain Anirudh Thapa also put up an impressive performance. The 24-year-old might consider himself a bit unlucky when referee Umesh Bora overlooked a clumsy challenge from East Bengal’s VP Suhair on him inside the box.
Nevertheless, Thapa controlled the midfield with his attacking flair and ensured that his team enjoyed a lion’s share of possession. He could also have been on the scoresheet, but his powerful left-footed shot was saved by East Bengal goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh.
Chennaiyin FC were tidy in their gameplay from the start as defenders Vafa, Fallou Diagne, and Ajith Kumar put in a good shift. Their tight marking didn’t allow East Bengal forwards space to operate. And even when East Bengal FC created chances, goalkeeper Debjit Majumder, who was returning from suspension, thwarted the attack with good saves.
After a goalless first half, Chennaiyin FC finally opened the scoring in the 69th minute of the match. Sangwan, who replaced Narayan Das in the first half, sent in a corner at the near post. Vafa, using his physicality, bulldozed past his marker and met the ball with a beautiful header that found the back of the net.
However, the Iranian saw his second yellow card of the match in the very next minute and was sent off because of his celebrations.
East Bengal FC, though, couldn’t take numerical advantage of the situation as Golui also saw his second yellow of the game in the 74th minute when he smashed his elbow into Thapa’s face.
Chennaiyin FC held firm for the remaining 15 minutes to take home full three points and notch up their second win of the campaign. The Marina Machans next face Mumbai City FC at their home on November 12.
