So that is it from today's game. Both these teams had opportunities to win the game but they failed to make the most of them. However, ISL will be back with a bang on Monday as last year's finalists go up against each other. FC Goa will be hosting Bengaluru FC and one can expect fireworks there. Join us at 1930 IST, till then, cheers and take care!
Awards!
The Club Award is shared by both teams as the match ended in a draw. Amrinder Singh is given the Maruti Suzuki Limitless Player of the Match Award. Rowllin Borges gets the Winning Pass of the Match Award. Lallianzuala Chhangte takes the ISL Emerging Player of the Match Award while Sarthak Golui collects the Hero of the Match Award.
A stalemate which we didn't expect!
After a frantic and exciting first half, where opportunities were coming in plenty, the second half was a pretty quiet affair. Chances came few and far in between in the second half as the defences got back on top. Serge Kevyn had a shot in the 67th minute but that was well saved by the keeper. Later, an injury to key man Rafael Crivellaro left Chennaiyin FC light in attack and that showed. However, Chennaiyin FC almost took the lead with just 5 minutes to go but Sarthak Golui put his body on the line and stopped it from happening. Also, Sauvik Chakrabarti was sent off in stoppage time as he received a second yellow card which means he will not be playing the next match for Mumbai City FC. Each team got a point and one can say this is what they deserved.
90'
Full time!
The game has ended in a stalemate as it finishes Chennaiyin FC 0-0 Mumbai City FC.
90'
Brutal
Sauvik Chakrabarti has been sent off for a second yellow card. Mumbai City FC take the corner but it is cleared by Chennaiyin FC. The ball is collected by Thoi Singh on the left flank and he sets off for a run. Sauvik Chakrabarti runs across and barges into Thoi Singh and he goes to ground. The referee has no hesitation and straightaway shows the second yellow card to send him off. The Islanders a man down now.
90'
Second Yellow Card
Second Yellow Card - Mumbai City FC : S. CHAKRABARTI
90'
Added time
90 minutes are up and 4 minutes have been added as stoppage time. Meanwhile, Jorge Costa, the Mumbai City FC coach has been given a yellow card for stepping out onto the field. His intentions were good as he spotted an extra ball on the field and he wanted to take it back but the referee has booked him.
85'
Blocked out!
The hosts piling on the pressure. This time Chennaiyin FC attack down the left, Tondonba Singh plays a pass down the left flank towards Thoi Singh. Thoi Singh whips it in towards the centre where he finds Nerijus Valskis. Valskis takes the shot but Sarthak Golui puts in a last-ditch sliding block in and the ball goes out of play. Mumbai City should be thanking Sarthak Golui here for his brave defending.
83'
Substitution
Substitution - Mumbai City FC (In: BIPIN, Out: F. ANGOUE)
82'
Helter-skelter action
A corner for Mumbai City FC is cleared by the Chennaiyin defenders and a counter-attack is started. Lallianzuala Chhangte runs down the right flank and puts in a cross. Sauvik Chakrabarti first clears it which goes towards Diego Carlos. The ball deflects off Diego back towards Sauvik Chakrabarti who finally clears it.
81'
Substitution
Substitution - Chennaiyin FC (In: THOI, Out: SCHEMBRI)
80'
Off target
Chennaiyin FC miss the opportunity to go into the lead late on. Anirudh Thapa gives a powerful pass into the feet of Nerijus Valskis who is in the penalty box. He gets the ball out of his feet after a couple of touches and takes the shot but he pulls it wide of the left side of the goal.
78'
Will the deadlock be broken?
Mumbai City FC with the possession of the ball but not posing any threat. With the final 12 minutes to go, will we see a goal?
75'
Substitution
Chennaiyin FC with their 2nd substitution. Masih Saighani comes on for Rafael Crivellaro who had gone down following the challenge on him by Sauvik Chakrabarti.
75'
Substitution
Substitution - Chennaiyin FC (In: SAIGHANI, Out: CRIVELLARO)
70'
Foul
Rafael Crivellaro is on the turf and he is brutally knocked out. This was a 50-50 ball where both players, Rafael Crivellaro and Sauvik Chakrabarti go for it. However, Chakrabarti has one foot off the ground and takes out Rafael Crivellaro on the followthrough.
68'
Substitution
First substitution for Chennaiyin FC. No. 10 for the hosts, Dragos Firtulescu goes off and no. 9, Nerijus Valskis comes on.
68'
Substitution
Substitution - Chennaiyin FC (In: VALSKIS, Out: Firtulescu)
67'
Islanders attack
Paulo Machado doing what he does best. He collects the ball near the centre circle and passes it to Serge Kevyn with perfect weight on it. Serge takes the first time shot but it lacks the venom to beat the keeper. Vishal Kaith pushes it to the defender who clears it away.
62'
Substitution
Second substitution for Mumbai City FC as Raynier Fernandes goes off and Paulo Machado comes on for him. Can he provide the breakthrough for the Islanders?
61'
Substitution
Substitution - Mumbai City FC (In: MACHADO, Out: RAYNIER)
59'
Good play by Chennaiyin FC
Offside trap used to perfect use. Just before Mohamed Larbi could take the free kick for Mumbai City FC, the Chennaiyin FC defenders moved up and 6 players from Mumbai City FC were left in an offside position.
56'
Yellow card
Mohamed Larbi goes into the book now. The referee has booked him for simulation.
56'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Mumbai City FC : LARBI
54'
On target
Chennaiyin FC again! This time Dragos Firtulescu slides a pass towards Eli Sabia who takes a touch and then a shot which goes on target. It is saved by Amrinder Singh at the near pole.
49'
Hosts attack again
Chennaiyin FC have started the second half positively. This time the ball is crossed towards Lallianzuala Chhangte on the far pole. He cuts it back towards Lucian Goian who tries to hit the shot but the ball skies over the bar.
48'
Yellow card
Sauvik Chakrabarti is shown a yellow card as he brings down Lallianzuala Chhangte from behind and stops the attack.
48'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Mumbai City FC : S. CHAKRABARTI
47'
Carved open
Chennaiyin FC on the attack at the start of the second half. Dragos Firtulescu on the run down the right flank, he plays a through ball to Rafael Crivellaro who makes a beautiful run in the penalty area. Crivellaro was expecting Firtulescu to continue his run and cuts the pass back towards the centre but it goes in no man's land as Mumbai City FC clear.
46'
Second half begins
Mumbai City FC get us underway. They will be attacking from left to right in the second half.
All square at the halfway mark!
Both these teams have created huge opportunities but none have been taken. In the first minute itself, Chennaiyin FC could have been in the lead but due to the sheer brilliance of Amrinder Singh, the scores stayed at 0-0. However, after that, it was the Mumbai City FC show. They created chance after chance but could not make the most of it. Amine Chermiti had two clear chances and one fell to substitute Serge Kevyn but the hosts were left off the hook by them. Had Modou Sougou been on the field, the story might have been a bit different but he was forced off due to an injury. The second half awaits and it is almost certain that a goal will be scored with both attacks on top form!
45'
HALF TIME!
Chennaiyin FC 0-0 Mumbai City FC!
45'
Added time
2 minutes have been added as stoppage time, mainly due to the injury to Modou Sougou.
44'
Corner
Chennaiyin FC have a corner at the stroke of half time. It has been a long time since the hosts were on the attack and they would be looking to make the most of it. They fail to do so and Mumbai City FC clear the ball.
40'
Down the left
Mumbai City FC attack from the left flank now. Diego Carlos and Raynier Fernandes combine beautifully as they beat 3 defenders by passing the ball to each other. Raynier Fernandes finally sets Diego Carlos free, he cuts in from the left flank and takes a shot/cross on goal but the ball is punched away by Vishal Kaith. The Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper has been a busy man in this half.
36'
Off the training ground
Beautiful play by Mumbai City FC again! They get a free-kick just outside the box, around the 25-yard mark. Mohamed Larbi instead of taking the shot, chips it over the wall. Amine Chermiti races in towards the goal but he cannot get to it and Vishal Kaith punches it away.
33'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Mumbai City FC : BORGES
32'
Serge Kevyn misses!
Mumbai City FC have had three clear chances to score but they have missed them all. Will they rue these missed chances come the end of the match? Rowllin Borges puts in a beautiful diagonal pass straight at the feet of Serge Kevyn at the centre of the 18-yard box. Serge Kevyn has a touch and tries to toe poke it towards the bottom right corner but the ball trudges well wide of the goal.
28'
Another chance
Again Amine Chermiti squanders a huge chance, this time with his head. Raynier Fernandes does some beautiful work down the right flank and whips in a dangerous cross. The keeper, Vishal Kaith tries to punch it away but misses the ball. Amine Chermiti is all alone and just has to head the ball on target but his diving header goes over the bar. Huge opportunity missed!
29'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Mumbai City FC : RAYNIER
24'
Huge chance
Mumbai City FC miss a huge chance to go into the lead. Amine Chermiti is set through on goal and is one on one with the keeper. He tries to curl it in with his left foot but blazes it over the bar. What has he done here!
24'
Substitution for Mumbai City FC
The worst has happened as Modou Sougou has had to come off. He tried to get on with the game but he will have to walk back. Serge Kevyn has come on for Sougou.
24'
Substitution
Substitution - Mumbai City FC (In: F. ANGOUE, Out: SOUGOU)
20'
Bad news for Mumbai City FC
Modou Sougou is down. Mumbai City FC are already hampered with many injuries but they would be hoping that this is not one more. Looks like Sougou has pulled his hamstring. He has gone off the field as the physios are giving him the treatment.
18'
Cheeky attempt
Rafael Crivellaro is into the thick of things again. He plays a beautiful through ball on the left flank towards Lallianzuala Chhangte. Chhangte comes in and takes his time before cutting it back towards Crivellaro. He goes for a cheeky chip shot towards the far post in an attempt to lob the keeper but the ball goes over the bar.
13'
The hosts go close again
This time Dragos Firtulescu is on the creative end. He plays a beautiful one-two just outside the box with Andre Schembri. Firtulescu lobs one over to the left flank towards Lallianzuala Chhangte. He controls it with his feet and unleashes a shot on goal from a narrow angle but it is saved by Amrinder Singh. The ball falls to Rafael Crivellaro near the penalty mark where he is all alone but Rafael puts his shot wide.
11'
CLOSE!
Beautiful play by Chennaiyin FC! Or should we say, Rafael Crivellaro. He controls the ball on the right flank after Mumbai City FC managed to clear it out. He was running towards his goal but quickly changed directions. He started to cut in from the right, beats two defenders on his way and unleashes a shot with his left foot but it goes just over the far pole.
8'
The Islanders under control
After the first opportunity for Chennaiyin FC, Mumbai City have calmed things down and brought it under control.
6'
Visitors attack
Subhasish Bose runs down the left flank now, he whips in a beautiful cross towards Modou Sougou but Vishal Kaith comes off his line and collects it. He tries to set his team on the counter-attack with a long throw but it is stopped by the Mumbai City FC defenders.
1'
What a start!
Chennaiyin FC on the attack straightaway. Rafael Crivellaro collects the ball on the left side of the midfield. He runs at the defenders and beats a couple of them. He slides in a pass towards Andre Schembri who cuts in and nutmegs Sarthak Golui. Andre has a shot on goal but Amrinder Singh gets off his line and saves the shot. The ball again falls to Rafael Crivellaro but he fails to lob the keeper and again the skipper Amrinder Singh pulls off a fantastic save. What a start and what a save!
1'
Kick off!
Chennaiyin FC get us underway as they pass the ball straight into the Mumbai City FC defence.
Toss
The captains come together for the toss. Chennaiyin FC have won the toss and they have chosen to take the start..
National Anthem
The players have come out on the field and are standing in attention for the Indian National Anthem.
Vishal Kaith (GK), Eli Sabia, Tondonba Singh, Lucian Goian (C), Lallianzuala Chhangte, Edwin Vanspaul, Dragos Firtulescu, Anirudh Thapa, Dhanpal Ganesh, Andre Schembri, Rafael Crivellaro.
Matchday!
It's time for match no. 8 of the Indian Super League as Chennaiyin FC host Mumbai City FC. Chennaiyin FC started their campaign in the worst possible manner as they were battered 0-3 by FC Goa. They return to their own turf now and will be looking to bounce back using the home support as a springboard. As for Mumbai City FC, they won their first match of the season against Kerala Blasters FC and have the opportunity to go top of the table. The Men in Blue have several players out injured for this game but that will be no excuse for them as they still boast a formidable squad. In midfield, Rowllin Borges will be the one who will be given the task of linking the defence to attack and Modou Sougou will be shouldering the goal-scoring burden. As for Chennaiyin FC, they will be buoyed by the loud home support. Anirudh Thapa will be one to look out for in their squad along with Rafael Crivellaro. Let's hope that it is an encounter filled with goals and action!