FC Goa beat Chennaiyin FC; top ISL table

EFT Report, Chennai: Leo Moura and Jonatan Lucca fired home from the penalty spot as FC Goa notched up a 2-0 victory over Chennaiyin FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) encounter here on Thursday to jump to the top spot of the points table.

Moura converted a penalty in the 64th minute and Lucca scored in the 74th as Goa took their tally to 14 points from eight matches, one point ahead of second-placed FC Pune City. Chennaiyin on the other hand, suffered the fourth loss of their campaign and are placed fifth with 10 points from eight matches.

To make matters worse for Chennaiyin, their midfielder Harmanjyot Singh Khabra was sent off in the 89th minute, the second time he has been shown the red card in this edition of the ISL.

Chennai had defeated Goa 4-0 in their first leg clash in Panaji and it was not surprising to see the visitors opt for an extra man in defence. The five-man defence made it difficult for Chennaiyin to break them down, although Stiven Mendoza had several chances to open their account.

The best chance for Chennai fell at the feet of Mendoza in the 35th minute. Elano Blumer’s free kick missed all the Goa defenders and fell nicely for Mendoza, but the Colombian striker's right-footed attempt from close range sailed wide of the target.

Goa did not have too many clear chances at the rival goal but Brazilian striker Rafael Coelho, playing for the first time, showed promise. He twice managed to speed his way down the left flank, but did not cross well enough and Thongkhosiem Haokip came close in the 45th minute, but Mehrajuddin Wadoo somehow managed to push the ball out for an abortive corner.

Goa turned things around in the second session with two spot kicks, both of which were converted with ease.

The first was in the 64th minute when a long, hasty clearance by Goa defender Luciano saw Rafael race into the Chennaiyin penalty area only for Mendy to bring the Brazilian striker down. The referee awarded a penalty which Moura converted by sending Karanjit the wrong way.

Goa won the second penalty when Moura pulled a ball back from inside a crowded goalmouth for Rafael whose shot was headed towards goal. But Wadoo blocked it with his knee only for the rebound to strike his own hand. Another penalty and this time and Lucca stepped up to double the visitors' advantage.

Chennaiyin finished the match with 10 men after Khabra, who was playing his first match after serving suspension for a previous red card, was sent off for a tackle on Moura.

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Boxer Amir Khan to watch today's ISL match in Delhi

EFT Report, New Delhi: Top British professional boxer Amir Khan, who is currently in India, will be watching the Indian Super League (ISL) contest between Delhi Dynamos and NorthEast United at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.

"I am going to watch the ISL match tomorrow. I am a big follower of football and I have heard there is a great amount of talent in India so I am going to witness some tomorrow. I am eager to see some action," Amir, who is of Pakistani origin, said.

"I am a big follower of Bolton Wanderers and I have a lot of friends in the Manchester United team. When Man U came to New York, they also came down to see me fight and I also go to watch their matches at times."

The 29-year-old Amir is an Olympic silver medallist that he won at the 2004 Athens Games. After turning professional, he went on to clinch two World Championships titles as well.

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Atletico de Kolkata beat Kerala Blasters 2-1 to go on top

EFT Report, Kolkata: Defending champions Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) blasted their way to the top of the league as they downed last year’s finalists Kerala Blasters FC 2-1 in an Indian Super League (ISL) encounter at the Salt Lake stadium here on Wednesday.

Arata Izumi scored the first for the hosts while in the second half it was a strike for Spanish midfielder Javi Lara who doubled the lead for ATK. Englishman Chris Dagnall pulled one back for the visitors 10 minutes from the end of regulation time.

With the win ATK now have seven points from three outings, while the Blasters are on four points from three matches.

The defending champions were off to a dream start at their own backyard. Five minutes into the game they made their intentions quite clear as Borja Fernandez long-ranger clattered the crossbar.

A minute later, they bagged a much greater reward as Hume latched on to a floater and unleashed a thunderous left-footer which was spilled by rival goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.

ATK’s Arata Izumi who was lurking around made no mistake in finding the back of the net from close range. The strike also brought smile on the face of Brazilian legend Pele who was in the stadium watching the game as a guest of honour for ATK.

There was also a clash of legs while Arata got on the scoresheet and Gurwinder Singh of the Blasters had to be stretchered off the field in the 10th minute.

Thereafter both sides looked to try and control the midfield which led to very scrappy football. Hume for the homeside worked tirelessly and tried everything possible to feed the other teammates up front but they wasted the few opportunities that came their way.

Three minutes from half-time Kerala had their first clear cut opportunity as Atletico defender Mohanraj failed to clear his lines. Rahul Bheke was quick to get to it and send in a brilliant cross but Dagnall could not get to the end of it. A chance that should have been buried in.

The last chance of the half fell for the hosts and Borja wriggled past defenders to send in a cross for Hume, but the Canadian failed to get his head to it.

After the breather, the around 62,000 crowd at the Salt Lake stadium came to its feet as Javi Lara cut open the Blasters defence with his quick feet and netted the second for his team. The shot could have landed in Bywater’s hands but it took a deflection on-way to beat the Kerala keeper all ends up.

Jolted for the second time in the game, the Blasters tried making a comeback but somehow the midfield failed to switch the passes forward to the strikers and a lot of attacks broke midway.

Habas’ tactics paid off and defensively Kolkata looked a well-knit unit. But at the 80th minute mark the visitors found their first of the night. Peter Ramage’s cross was flicked on by Shankar and Englishman Chris Dangall was there to slot it in.

Kerala attacked with all its might in the last few minutes of the game, but the defence stood strong along with custodian Juan Calatayud who made some brilliant saves.

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ISL 2: FC Goa beat Delhi Dynamos 2-0

EFT Report, Margao: Zico outsmarted Roberto Carlos in a tactical battle between two distinguished Brazilian football brains, as hosts FC Goa kickstarted their Indian Super League (ISL) 2 journey with a 2-0 win over Delhi Dynamos here on Sunday.

A Souvik Chakraborty own goal and Reinaldo scored for the home team in the first half at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Goa got a dream start much to the delight of the decent turnout when an own goal from Souvik, pressurised by Man of the Match midfielder Mandar Rao Desai, put them ahead as early as the third minute of the match, even before the Dynamos defence, led by marquee player Norweigian John Arne Riise in an unfamiliar centre-back position, could settle down.

Winger Romeo Fernandes set up the goal with an intelligent run on the right flank. He entered the box, went to the byline and then cut back his pass across the face of goal. Under pressure from midfielder Desai, Chakraborty put the ball in the net trying to effect a clearance.

The early goal facilitated a brisk start to the proceedings as Dynamos pushed forward stung by it.

Frenchman Florent Malouda, another star signing, was the heart of all their moves, alongside industrious central midfielder Hans Mulder. Dynamos employed a through the middle approach to score as Malouda tried to weave his way past Goa defenders several times.

Goa, contrastingly, tried to spread their attacks on their pacy wingers, particularly the nippy Fernandes on the right flank. 

The pace of the game slowed down considerably as the hot and humid conditions began to take a toll on the players. But it didn't stop Goa from doubling their lead.

After getting a foul just on the edge of the right side of the penalty area, the resultant free-kick was driven in hard for Brazilian striker Reinaldo Da Cruz Oliveira to poke it in.

Dynamos' marquee player-coach Brazilian legend was visibly agitated at the disjointed performance of his team in the first half and brought himself in, replacing Mulder in the second session. 

Dynamos' attack got some purpose after his introduction and was denied by the post twice in the 54th minute. Riise's curving, dipping left footer hit the outside of the left post and Malouda's header, off the rebound, struck the right post.

But it was not all Dynamos in the second session as Goa looked to soak up the pressure applied to them and score on the break.

They did create openings launching into swift counter attacks but couldn't convert those chances as the pace of the proceedings dipped.

As minutes passed, Dynamos ran out of ideas and Carlos was restricted to attempting long range shots from outside the area.

Goa next face Atletico de Kolkata in another home match on October 7 while Dynamos play against Chennaiyin FC in their home match a day later.

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