ISL, Chennaiyin FC 0-2 FC Goa Highlights: Redeem, Noah goals take Gaurs top of table

“I’m so happy. We had a difficult game. I just want to help the team, I follow my strengths. It was really hard playing in humid conditions today but we kept pushing,” says Noah who assisted the first goal and scored the second.

A professional display by the Gaurs. They looked the more potent side bar the first few minutes of the game. Redeem outmuscled Narayan Das and headed home a Noah cross to get his team ahead. Dheeraj was pivotal for Goa as he made multiple saves in the first half. The second half was a bit scattered and Goa again had the better chances. Noah was slightly wasteful and had the opportunity to score multiple times. He finally took his chance and got the second goal in stoppage time. FC Goa moves to the top of the league with this win. The only team with 2 wins out of 2. Hyderabad FC awaits for Goa next, on October 29 while Chennaiyin faces East Bengal on November 4.

FC Goa controls the ball on the right edge of the field and continues to frustrate the home side. Referee blows the full time whistle and Goa goes back with three points from the Marina Arena.

Chennaiyin first gets a freekick which is played into the Goa penalty area. A corner for the home team after a deflection. The corner is taken short and the ball then played into the box. The effort has too much power behind it and goes long.

Noah’s goal means that FC Goa will go the top of ISL standings with six points. Still seven minutes for Chennaiyin to pull a rabbit of their hats.

That should settle the game. Noah finally gets his goal. FC Goa takes a throw in and the ball is pushed into the Chennaiyin half. Narayan Das makes an error and gets sucked in towards the ball. Noah gets the ball and he is off on his way. He bends the ball into the bottom corner for the goal.

The 4th official raises the board for 12 minutes of stoppage time.

Arsh gets a cross in the penalty area but he wobbles it away. Chennaiyin players are lurking around and get a sniff off the loose ball. FC Goa’s centre backs are alert and clear the danger.

In - Joby

Out - Ajith

The forward tries to sneak in behind the defence but the FC Goa back line is alert and catch the Ghana player offside.

Chennaiyin creates an attack from the right wing. Sliskovic crosses and the ball beats everyone. Sangwan is charging from the back and he swings at the ball from just inside the penalty area. He has no control and the ball goes sailing over the goal.

In - Chothe

Out - Redeem

Chennaiyin plays an ambitious cross from the left flank. Sliskovic meets it but fails to manage any power behind the shot. The attempt takes a deflection and Chennaiyin gets a corner. Nothing comes off it, though.

Chennaiyin tries to work play from the back as Narayan Das passes to keeper Dabas. Two Goa players come charging into the penalty area to press. Dabas panics and can only hit the ball out of play for a throw in to FC Goa.

In - Vincy, Ninthoi

Out - Prashanth, Rahim

The two teams are arguing over who gets the ball. FC Goa played the ball out on purpose since Valiente was down injured. But Chennaiyin refuses to give the ball back and Goa playes are not happy. Ikar and Bedia have arguments with Prashanth. Karikari too gets involved.

Brison skips past a defender on the right edge of the Chennaiyin penalty area and unleashes a powerful attempt. The shot goes over the post.

In - Sangwan, Karikari

Out - Jiteshwor, Fallou

Chennaiyin gifts the ball to Goa. Noah breaks out with his pace. He has two options, one on either side but he chooses to take the shot. The attempt goes wide and FC Goa still has just one goal.

The Goa keeper seems to have a serious issue after the clash. He is subbed off. Arsh Singh comes on for the Gaurs in goal.

Brandon and Glan Martins are out and Brison and Ayush are brought on.

The Goa custodian was injured while defending a corner. But he looks okay to continue post the five minutes spent on his treatment.

FC Goa’s keeper Dheeraj hits a long pass from his own box and finds Noah on the left flank and in the Chennaiyin half. Noah drives ahead, cuts in and shoots. The shot stays low and Dabas saves it.

The very first minute and the home team takes a corner after Rahim’s shot is deflected wide. Nothing comes off the set piece, though.

The players are making their way back to the pitch from the 15-minute break.

That is half time. FC Goa should have been at least three goal up now. After Redeem’s opener, the Gaurs have been wasteful. However, they also have to thank Dheeraj Singh in goal who has made some stellar saves to prevent the home team from getting level. Back in 15 for 2nd half.

The midfielder has missed a sitter. Absolutely unbeleiveable. FC Goa beaks out into a counter attack from a Chennaiyin corner. The Gaurs have a 3-on-1 advantage when the ball lands at Martins’ feet. The shot is weak and goes wide. Carlos Pena is fuming on the touchline.

Prashanth tucks a pass in the path of Sliskovic who is making a run in behind. The shot is on and the Chennaiyin forward fires it in. Dheeraj, who has come charging down his line, saves it. The ball, however, bobs up and is making its way into the goal on a bounce. Dheeraj quickly turns around and prevents it from going in.

FC Goa wins a freekick on the right flank after a handball. As always, Bedia has to send the ball into the box but his attempt lacks the right elevation and Chennaiyin is easily able to push it out of danger.

Noah fights the ball of a Chennaiyin shirt. The forward then moves past Jiteshwor’s challenge and lets one fly. The shot has a bit too much swerve on it and bends away from goal.

The right back is in the FC Goa penalty area and he tries to dink a ball in but it goes over the goal line and Goa gets a goal kick.

FC Goa has a throw in from the left. Glan Martins gets the ball in, turns to the right and shoots. The ball is just a metre away from being on target.

The FC Goa custodian bails his side out. Glan Martins loses the ball and Rahim Ali takes it on the edge of Goa’s penalty area. He opens the pass to Jiteshwor on the right, but the following shot is saved by Dheeraj.

The Gaurs get a chance on the other end. Noah again breaks in behind the defence and is one-on-one against Debas. His left-footed shot goes wide off the far post.

Prashanth makes a sneaky run behind the FC Goa backline. He cuts the pass back to Rahim Ali who strikes. Dheeraj gets a touch and sends the ball crashing into the crossbar. Petar gets the rebound but that too is saved by Dheeraj. That is world class goalkeeping from Dheeraj Singh.

The midfielder pushes forward in an attempt to get in behind. But Prashanth’s pass is a tad bit late and Thapa is ruled offside.

The teams have shared a 50-50 posession until this point. Chennaiyin has had more threat to be fair. But FC Goa has the lead courtesy of some daring and direct football.

The visitors have gone ahead! Noah Sadaoui makes a run into the channel and gets a long ball. He takes the ball to the touchline and gets the cross in. Redeem gets ahead of Narain Das in the box and sends the ball past Dabas. One attack, one goal. Clinical!

Chennaiyin gets a way into the Goa penalty area from the left side. Sliskovic is on a run and he reaches the ball and attempts a shot. Dheeraj saves!

The home team has a sustained spell of possession but nothing comes off it as Chennaiyin’s Mohan fails to collect the ball on the right flank. The ball rolls out for a throw in to Goa.

The Spaniard jabs his knee on the ground while blocking a Chennaiyin FC cross on the right flank. He’s fine though as he gets up moments laters.

FC Goa wins a free kickon its first attack. Bedia steps up to take the shot from the right side but his free kick goes well over the cross bar.

Anirudh Thapa breaks through the middle and into the Goa half. He stops on the edge of the oppostion penalty area to pass to Petar on his right, but it is misplaced and Goa wins the ball back.

The countdown i sover and the ball is set rolling with Chennaiyin FC taking possession. Let’s football!

The teams make their way through to the park which is followed by the Indian national anthem.

Chennaiyin FC will play with a 4-4-2 formation while FC Goa has chalked out a 4-2-3-1 shape for its lineup.

Kick off is just moments away as Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa get ready to face off for the 22nd time.

Chennaiyin FC sits in 3rd place with four points off two matches. FC Goa is 6th with three points but has played just one game.

Won 2-1 vs East Bengal

Won 2-1 vs ATK Mohun Bagan

Drew 1-1 vs Bengaluru FC

Played - 21

FC Goa - 11

Chennaiyin FC - 8

Draw - 2

The fixture has seen 79 goals over the past seasons of the ISL, the highest of all fixtures.

Chennaiyin: Dabas, Ajith, Vafa, Fallou, Narayan, Duker, Jiteshwor, Thapa (C), Prasanth, Rahim, Petar

Goa: Dheeraj, Seriton, Anwar Ali, Valiente, Aibanbha, Glan Martins, Bedia, Fernandes, Guarrotxena, Redeem, Sadaoui

Chennaiyin FC will look to continue its strong start to the season as it takes on FC Goa in the Indian Super League on Friday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai.

The two-time champion began with a come-from-behind away win against ATK Mohun Bagan and then held Bengaluru FC to a thrilling 1-1 draw at home.

Speaking about his team’s performance so far, Chennaiyin coach Thomas Brdaric said, “The result of the last match [against Bengaluru] could have gone in all directions, but we took a point. Having four points from two games is not bad.”

“Goa has some strengths and we have professionally analysed them. It will be a good challenge.”

FC Goa, under its new manager Carlos Pena, has also begun strongly, after beating East Bengal away, through a late Edu Bedia goal.

The last time the Gaurs visited Chennai was in the first leg of the ISL 2020 semifinal when the Marina Machans pulled off a convincing 4-1 win in front of an excited Chennai crowd.

With fans coming back to ISL after two years, Brdaric expressed his excitement about playing in front of such passionate supporters.

“Last week [against Bengaluru] we got a taste and I liked it so much. Looking forward to the next one. As I have said earlier, the spark jumps both ways - stands to pitch. It is key the fans identify with the style with which we play,” he said.

On Friday, Chennaiyin will be without its regular goalkeeper Debjit Majumder, who received a red card in the previous game for a handball outside the penalty box.

“For me, it [Debjit conceding the red card] was a good decision as we would have had to settle for zero points if that goal went in. He took responsibility and sacrificed himself,” said Brdaric.

“Devansh Dabas will replace Debjit. I’m sure Devansh will play on a good level. I like his attitude. Tomorrow will be his chance to play.”

A decisive battle awaits in the midfield between Chennaiyin skipper Anirudh Thapa and Goa’s Spanish orchestrator Edu Bedia.

Thapa, who scored against the Gaurs in the 2020 semifinal, has been used in a more advanced role by Brdaric. Bedia, meanwhile, is still pulling the strings for Goa from deep and showed his influence with a deceptive late freekick to win the game against East Bengal.