Chennaiyin FC Falls to East Bengal in ISL Clash Despite Irfan Yadwad's Stellar Performance
Chennaiyin FC Suffers Defeat at Home
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India] - In a dramatic match on Saturday, Chennaiyin FC faced a 3-1 loss against East Bengal in the Indian Super League (ISL), with two late goals after the 80th minute sealing their fate. Despite a remarkable goal from Irfan Yadwad and a spirited second-half effort, the team could not secure a better outcome.
This defeat leaves Chennaiyin FC in 12th place in the league standings, having managed only one win, two draws, and four losses, totaling five points. In contrast, East Bengal sits comfortably in fourth place with 14 points from four wins, two draws, and one loss.
With just four days since their last match, head coach Clifford Miranda made a notable decision by giving Vivek S his first start in the ISL. He joined Irfan Yadwad and Farukh Choudhary in the attack, while Elsinho, Alberto Noguera, and Lalrinliana Hnamte formed the midfield as Chennaiyin aimed to take control early on.
Chennaiyin started strong, with Mohammad Nawaz making a crucial save early on. However, the hosts faced an unfortunate setback in the seventh minute when East Bengal scored under controversial circumstances. Elsinho was down after a challenge, and while Chennaiyin expected the ball to be kicked out, East Bengal continued play, allowing Edmund to score.
Despite the setback, Chennaiyin responded well, with Noguera testing the East Bengal goalkeeper. They came close to equalizing when Farukh's cross found Irfan, whose header hit the post. The equalizer came shortly after, as Laldinliana Renthlei delivered a brilliant long ball to Irfan, who skillfully lifted it over the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.
Chennaiyin continued to press, with Mandar Rao Dessai making a vital tackle to prevent a goal. Irfan remained a constant threat, but Nawaz had to make several impressive saves to keep the score level at halftime.
The second half began positively for Chennaiyin, with Noguera coming close from distance. A well-executed play saw Irfan deliver a cross that Daniel Chima Chukwu failed to convert. Irfan's relentless attacking continued to trouble East Bengal's defense, while Nawaz made a series of outstanding saves.
As the match neared its conclusion, Farukh made a dynamic run in the 81st minute but was denied a clear shot. Against the run of play, East Bengal regained the lead two minutes later when Bipin Singh scored with a header from a left-side cross, making it 2-1. Farukh had another opportunity late in the game but missed the target with his header. East Bengal then sealed the victory in stoppage time, with Nanda Kumar scoring on the break, concluding the match at 3-1.