Chennaiyin FC defeated FC Goa 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at the Fatodra Stadium in Goa to win the ISL season II trophy. Bruno Pellisari, Laxmikanth Kattimani's own goal and Stiven Mendoza scored for the visiting team, while Shamboi Haokip and Jofre found the target for FC Goa. The match can easily be qualified as the most closely fought game of the entire season as it was expected to be from before but Chennaiyin FC had the upper hand on FC Goa.
Let’s take a look at players who made the difference in the final:
FC Goa:
Heroes:
1) Shamboi Thaokip: The young striker from Manipur was introduced in the place of Leo Moura in the second half to restore balance in the team, which was no less than a gamble from Zico. But the gamble paid off brilliantly as Thaokip levelled the score for Goa through a brilliant Romeo Fernandes's cross and kept the Ghaurs alive in the match.
2) Laxmikanth Kattimani: The tragic hero of the match, Kattimani did an outstanding job of saving back-to-back two penalties within 10 minutes. In the first one Bruno Pellisari managed to score in the rebound but in the second, Mendoza showed no mercy. To add to his woes, Chennaiyin got their second goal through Kattimani's own goal when the latter's mistimed punch pushed the ball in the goal.
3) Jofre: Not only did the Spaniard scored a stunning goal through an equally stunning free-kick, Jofre was man for FC Goa who was fighting it out in the midfield. With no Moura in the second half, Jofre took all the responsibility on himself to propel FC Goa's attacks.
Zeroes:
FC Goa's defence, consisting of Lucio, Gregory Arnolin and Pronay Halder
The back three had the responsibility to defend which they failed miserably, especially in the dying minutes. First Chennaiyin were able to win two penalties in such a crucial encounter, then a collision with Kattimani resulted in an own goal and finally their combined inability to stop Mendoza from scoring the final goal. If Zico has to blame somebody, he can gladly blame his defence which is totally justified.
Chennaiyin Fc:
Heroes:
1) Stiven Mendoza: This season of the ISL belonged to Mendoza. He was able to earn two penalties for his team, as on both the occasions, FC Goa players committed fouls on him. Mendoza, too, should be credited for the Chennaiyin's second goal as he kept a constant pressure on the Goan defence which forced them to make an error. And obviously the third goal, where Mendoza showed his true class of a striker and nailed the match for Chennaiyin.
2) Jayesh Rane: Rane came in the place of Jeje, a masterstroke from Matterazi, which changed the match. Behind Chennaiyin's second and the third goal lies Rane's brilliant aerial cross. Although Mendoza might have done the finishing work in both the instances, Rane's credit lies in creating both the moves which gave his team the match winning goals.
3) Edel Bete: Edel is definitely the best keeper to have played in the short history of ISL and he achieved a feat of winning the competition twice, last year with ATK and this time with Chennaiyin. Coming to this match, although he conceded two goals, but he was rock solid between the bars and made a swift save off Thaokip's back heel.
By Dipayan Saha
