Mohun Bagan SG 2-3 Chennaiyin FC Highlights: Irfan nets winner to keep top-six hopes for CFC alive in ISL 10

Irfan Yadwad, the super-sub took centre-stage against the defending ISL championas his stoppage time winner ensure three points for the Marina Machans.

Chennaiyin FC catches Mohun Bagan on the counter and Irfan runs into the final third, flicks the ball past Kaith, who was well off his line and then rolls the ball into an empty net to make it 3-2 for the visitors. 

Petratos steps for the penalty and rattles the net despite Debjit jumping the right way. Ans just like that, Mohun Bagan might have just manages a point in second-half stoppage time.

Ankit Mukherjee tries to deny Sadiku from getting to the ball and ends up conceding a foul, according to the referee, who points to the spot right away.

Chennaiyin is putting numbers around the Mohun Bagan attack, trying everything to keep its hopes of making it to the top six alive.

Coyle looks to include fresh legs as Irfan Yadav replaces goalscorer Jordan Murray. Seconds later, Ankit Mukherjee almost concedes an own goal, which is forced out by Debjit.

Mohun Bagan looks to have been drawn into utter chaos at the moment. Right after Murray’s goal, Chennaiyin has looked have gotten a fresh life and is currently making the most of it.

Chennaiyin shoots with a set-piece attempt, with Crivellaro floating in a left-footed corner kick, which is headed into the net by Ryan Edwards.

Owen Coyle’s side has put its foot on the gas, with Rahim Ali almost becoming a super sub. He receives a cross from the right and shoots on the volley. However, the shot is off-target and the home fans heave a sign of relief.

Chennaiyin FC catches Mohun Bagan napping and he makes a run along the right, beats Tangri with a turn and then shoots past Vishal Kaith, who is beaten at his near post.

Petratos passes the ball to Manvir, who tries to cross from the right. CFC clears it out for corner, which goes out for another corner. It looked like an off-target shot by Sadiku, but the lineman, surprisingly, points to the corner.

In: Rahim Ali, Ayush, Sarthak, Out: Farukh, Bikash, Jiteshwor

Meanwhile, Jordan Murray tries to test the goalkeeper with a left-footed hit from outside the box, which is just wide.

Mohun Bagan has grabbed full control of this match, playing with a three-man defence at the moment, with enough attention along the flanks to contain the runs of Vincy Barretto and Conor Shields.

Mohun Bagan tries to attack again, with Petratos trying to get onto the scoresheet. He drifts to his right to look for space to shoot and then delivers a shot, which is pushed away by Debjit.

Petratos marches into the final third, draws defenders towards himself to release Sadiku, and then passes to him but Chennayin does well to stop that development, stealing the ball before it could reach the Albanian.

Colaco carries the ball along the left flank, cuts back to Petratos, whose shot flies over the net.

Conor Shields, having got the ball along the left flank, switches play with an aerial cross to Farukh but Subhasish makes sure that the Marina Machans do not cause further trouble through that attack. 

Crivellaro does brilliantly to beat Subhasish with a backheel nutmeg, which is received by Conor Shields, but his pass is stopped by Kaith.

Subhasish is back on his feet after applying some ice on his head and the match resumes with Chennayin eyeing the prized equaliser to keep its hopes of top six alive.

Vincy Barretto and Subhasish Bose go for the ball and get involved in a clash of heads. The latter goes to the ground, with cries of “Physio! Physio!” as MBSG’s medical team rushes to the captain.

Chennayin FC, after a team, huddle takes their position, with Crivellaro getting the ball rolling. It is quite an interesting affair for Anirudh Thapa, the CFC captain who moved to Mohun Bagan last summer but is benched in this game.

Kauko’s first goal in the ISL this season remains the separating factor between the two sides as Mohun Bagan goes into the break at the driving seat.

Vincy Barretto tries a late surge for Chennaiyin FC, marauding down the right flank and he is brought down through a late challenge by Tangri. Though the MBSG midfielder says that he got the ball, the referee brandishes a yellow card, making it the first booking of this match. 

Sadiku tries to switch the point of attack with a cross from the left, which falls to Kauko. The Finland International takes a shot from outside the box, which bouces in front of Debjit, who gloves it easily.

Conor Shields takes the corner, which is finally received by Vincy, whose cross is then cleared by Anwar. However, Conor whips it in again, only to see Mariners contain yet another attack in a frustrating night for the visitors. 

Chennaiyin gets a free kick outside the penalty box and Crivellaro is at the end of it. He whips in a left-footer, which is deflected off the wall for a CFC corner.

Colaco gets another cross on the left flank but this time Ankit Mukherjee intercepts it to clear it away. Chennaiyin tries to attack on the counter but Abhishek fouls Crivellaro in the midfield.

Mohun Bagan looks to be on song at the moment, with Colaco making attacking runs at will along the left flank. He tries to deliver a cross, but realises he has been surrounded and tries a shot from distance, which ends to nothing but earns a few cheers from the fans. 

Mariners have started raining attacks once Chennaiyin is caught in the web of man-marking, threading through balls quite easily. Abhishek tries one for Sadiku, who turns, passes back to Abhishek when he eventually loses the ball. 

Mohun Bagan drags Chennayin back into its half, with Barretto darting back into his half along the right. Colaco makes two turns, almost embarrassing Vincy and then crosses for an alert Kauko, who slots it into the net to the cheers and joy of thousands of Mohun Bagan fans in the stadium. 

Sadiku gets to the bottom of Amwar Ali’s cross from the left, but his header is handled well by Debjit.

Chennaiyin FC tries to attack along the left with triangular passes to beat the marking. Farukh gets to the end of the attack but is caught in the offside trap as the development bites the .

A gorgeous through ball by Petratos into the Chennaiyin box for Colaco, who beats Bikash to shoot on target. However, Debjit meets it with equal quality to deny a certain goal to the India international.

Owen Coyle, an otherwise composed man in press conferences looks like the voice behind Ozzy Man reviews, shouting cuss words to instruct his players to turn.

Crivellaro takes the free-kick for Chennaiyin FC, which finds Jordan Murray. However, Murray’s lobbed header beats Kaith as well as the goal, with the ball rolling past the net. 

The press of Chennaiyin looks to be more than what Mohun Bagan had anticipated. And, perhaps, that is forcing Colaco and Sadiku clear balls.

Chennaiyin is trying to take the aerial ball approach but Subhasish Bose shifts to the centre and does his defensive duty of heading the ball out of danger.

Chennaiyin keeps its attack going, with Shields making a run along the left flank. Murray runs into the box, expecting a cross but Hector, again, makes sure that the ball goes out of play for a goal kick. 

As Chennaiyin FC clears the ball, Jordan Murray gets the ball in the MBSG final third and tries to side-step Hector, only to see the ball go out of play off a touch of Hector. Surprisingly, the referee gives a goal kick.

Mohun Bagan takes a quick corner, which is just missed by Anwar Ali. However, Manvir gets to the end of it but his header is caught comfortably by Debjit.

Manvir gets the ball along the right flank, marches up the pitch and tries to find someone at the receiving end of his cross. However, Jiteshwor intercepts and the ball is cleared by Aakash.

Tangri, who impressed in the Asian Cup on his senior team debut makes a crucial interception along the left flank to deny a cross for Chennaiyin FC.

The Mariners have switched back to a four-man defence, contrary to a three-man back-line under former head coach Juan Ferrando. CFC, meanwhile, look to start building from the back.

Mohun Bagan is playing like a typical Anotonio Habas side, barging into the final third. CFC stops Sadiku in his tracks and it starts attacking on the counter. Farukh crosses from the left, which fails to find a receiver.

Mohun Bagan gets the ball rolling in this fixture with Chennaiyin looking to earn a top six spot with a late surge in this edition of the ISL. 

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Mohun Bagan SG has 24.1 touches in the opposition box, second only to FC Goa in the ISL.

Debjit; Ankit, Bikash, Ryan, Aakash; Jiteshwor, Connor; Vincy, Farukh, Rafa; Jordan

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Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) will look to continue its pursuit for its maiden ISL League Shield title when it takes on Chennaiyin FC in a matchweek 20 fixture of ISL-10 at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Sunday. 

The Mariners have been unbeaten since Antonio Lopez Habas returned to take over the reins of the team early in January. It has won six out of its last eight matches and has risen to the second spot with 39 points from 18 matches.

This keeps MBSG two points shy of the current leader Mumbai City FC (41 points). The former has also played a match less in comparison. The host will be looking at the opportunity to assume the leadership by picking up full points against Chennaiyin FC, which has experienced a mixed bag of success in the second phase of the tournament.

Chennaiyin under its head coach Owen Coyle has come up with some good performances but its success rate has been overshadowed by setbacks which keeps the team in the 11th spot with 18 points from as many matches. Chennaiyin, which has lost thrice in its previous five matches, will be looking to reverse the trend as it returns after the international break.