That's it from this game where we get the last team for the final 4 positions. It is Chennaiyin FC who edge out Mumbai City FC to seal the final birth. We have the final 4 confirmed in the Indian Super League with 3 games still to go. On Saturday, 22 February, Bengaluru FC host ATK which could be a very exciting game. We will love your company for that game which starts at 1930 IST. Till then, take care.
Awards
Chennaiyin FC grab the Club Award after a win this evening. Jerry Lalrinzuala collects the Limitless Player of the Match Award. Nerijus Valskis grabs the Winning Pass of the Match Award. Laldinliana Renthlei wins the ISL Emerging Player of the Match Award while Lucian Goian bags the Hero of the Match Award.
Chennaiyin FC enter the final 4
We see dull faces in the Mumbai City FC camp as they have been knocked out of the tournament by Chennaiyin FC. Amine Chermiti will rue the chance he missed in the 67th minute of the game. However, Lucian Goian, the Chennaiyin FC skipper will remember this game for a long time. He has taken his side into the semi-finals with a game left for them. We saw cards being shown in the second half with Sourav Das getting sent off for a challenge on Lallianzuala Chhangte in the 54th minute and Mumbai City FC played the remaining game with 10 men. It still never looked like that we will see a goal but Goian hit one into the back of the net in the 83rd minute to seal the deal for the Marina Machans. It is the end of the road for Mumbai City FC who would be disappointed with their effort in this game in front of their home crowd.
90'
Full time
The referee has blown the whistle for full time and it ends Mumbai City FC 0-1 Chennaiyin FC.
90'
Yellow card
Germanpreet Singh commits a foul and the referee spots that but Diego Carlos is not happy with the decision. He gets a yellow for dissent as he lashes out at Germanpreet Singh for the tackle.
90'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Mumbai City FC : DIEGO
90'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Chennaiyin FC : CRIVELLARO
90'
Added time
The referee has added 5 minutes in this half as stoppage time. Can the hosts find the equaliser?
87'
Good block
That could've been 2-0 but Pratik Chaudhari is present at the right place at the right time. Rafael Crivellaro once again takes the corner from the right. This time Amrinder Singh punches it away. It falls to Germanpreet Singh who takes the shot on the volley and the ball is hit on target too but Pratik Chaudhari makes a block and Amrinder Singh quickly collects it.
83'
GOALLLL
Chennaiyin FC open the scoring and take the lead. A corner from Rafael Crivellaro is delivered at the near post. Nerijus Valskis leaps high and tries to head the ball in but it just brushes his head and goes behind where Lucian Goian hits the ball into the back of the net on a volley. The Mumbai Football Arena has gone silent here. Can Chennaiyin FC keep them silent for the remaining few minutes of the game to seal the semi-final spot?
83'
Goal
Goal - Chennaiyin FC : GOIAN
81'
Substitution!!!
Mumbai City FC make another change as Mohamed Larbi goes out for Bidyananda Singh.
81'
Substitution
Substitution - Mumbai City FC (In: BIDYANANDA, Out: LARBI)
78'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Chennaiyin FC : ELI SABIA
77'
Brilliant save
Amrinder Singh denies Chennaiyin FC. Vital, vital save from the skipper. Thoi Singh gets the ball on the right. He passes it ahead for Germanpreet Singh who hits the ball towards the near post but Amrinder Singh makes an excellent save with his leg.
76'
Substitution
Mumbai City FC make their first change of the game. Modou Sougou is going off and he has been replaced by Bipin Singh.
76'
Substitution
Substitution - Mumbai City FC (In: BIPIN, Out: SOUGOU)
75'
Off target
Anirudh Thapa takes a corner from the left. It is cleared outside the box easily. The ball falls to Jerry Lalrinzuala who takes a shot from long but ends up hitting it way over the goal.
72'
Cleared easily
Lallianzuala Chhangte makes a run from the left side. He passes the ball towards Jerry Lalrinzuala who enters near the box and tries to cross but one of the Mumbai City FC players clears it away.
67'
Chermiti misses a golden opportunity
Oh dear, Amine Chermiti, what have you done? He should've had scored one for the hosts and it would've been the winner. Diego Carlos from his own half gives an excellent long ball ahead for Amine Chermiti who controls the ball well and then after a couple of touches shoots the ball but ends up hitting it wide.
65'
Substitution
Substitution - Chennaiyin FC (In: GERMAN.K, Out: VANSPAUL)
65'
Takes one for the team
Lallianzuala Chhangte wins the ball in the middle of the park. He makes a run forward but Mohammed Rafique trips him from behind. The referee spots it and shows a yellow. Mohammed Rafique shows no disagreement as he knows that it was an intentional foul.
64'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Mumbai City FC : RAFIQUE
62'
Good defending
Amine Chermiti gets the ball on the left and tries to dash forward. He gets near the box but Eli Sabia does really well to not allow him any space and keep the ball out of danger.
58'
Substitution
Chennaiyin FC make the first change of the game. Dragos Firtulescu is the man who is going off and Thoi Singh comes on for him.
58'
Substitution
Substitution - Chennaiyin FC (In: THOI, Out: Firtulescu)
54'
Red Card
Here comes the red card now. Sourav Das trips down Lallianzuala Chhangte outside the box. Lallianzuala Chhangte got the ball in the middle of the park and he was making a run forward. Sourav Das runs behind him and realizing he may not be able to stop his run, he trips him. The referee quickly brings the red card off his pocket and sends Sourav out of the park. Mumbai City FC go one man down in this all-important clash.
54'
Red Card
Red Card - Mumbai City FC : SOURAV
52'
Another yellow
This time Vishal Kaith gets in the book of the referee. He gets a yellow but he will feel that he has got away from a bigger punishment. Amine Chermiti gets a through ball on the right. He charges ahead with the ball but Vishal Kaith comes off his line and ends up taking down Chermiti with a sliding tackle. Mumbai City FC players argue for a red card but the referee ignores all calls and shows a yellow.
52'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Chennaiyin FC : KAITH
50'
Yellow card
Jerry Lalrinzuala gets the first booking of the night. He makes a poor tackle to win the ball on the right from Modou Sougou. The referee spots that and brings out the yellow from his pocket.
50'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Chennaiyin FC : JERRY
46'
Resumption
We are back for the action in the second segment. Mumbai City FC will get us underway. They are attacking left to right in this half.
Goalless half
End of an engrossing half of football but neither of the sides have managed to find the goal. We didn't get to see a lot of clear-cut chances either as the defense of both the sides have played really well to keep the attackers at bay. In the 15th minute of the game, Laldinliana Renthlei pushed down Diego Carlos and there was an appeal made for a penalty but the referee gave it as a corner. Amine Chermiti had a clear goal in front in the 25th minute of the half but his header went off target. When both the sides return for the second segment, we will get to see more intensity from players from both sides. Let's see how the second half pans out.
45'
Half time
There goes the half time whistle and it ends with Mumbai City FC 0 - 0 Chennaiyin FC.
45'
Added time
The referee has added 4 minutes as injury time.
43'
Offside
Edwin Vanspaul wins the ball down on the right. He crosses it in front of the goal for Nerijus Valskis who has just the goalkeeper to beat but ends up heading it way wide. However, the linesman raises the offside flag.
40'
Heads smashing
Modou Sougou and Anirudh Thapa try to win an aerial ball but they end up hitting each other's head. Both the men go down in pain. After some time they get up and we resume.
36'
Over the bar
Subhasish Bose does well to win the ball just outside the box. He does not get any space to deliver the ball ahead so he passes it back to Mohamed Larbi who takes a shot from a long distance but ends up smashing the ball way over the target.
34'
Bad tackle
Laldinliana Renthlei pushes down Diego Carlos on the left. The referee spots that and awards a free-kick to the home side. Subhasish Bose takes the free-kick but nothing comes out of it.
31'
Injury?
Amrinder Singh, the skipper seems to be injured here. He tries to collect a back pass but Jerry Lalrinzuala charges ahead to get to the ball. Singh does well to clear it away but in the process gets injured as Jerry Lalrinzuala's knee hits his face. He is getting his head wrapped with a bandage. Brave stuff from the captain.
25'
Chance
Mohamed Larbi wins the ball in the middle of the park. He passes it towards Diego Carlos who takes a shot from outside the box but Vishal Kaith clears it away. Mumbai City FC attack again from the right as Diego Carlos gives a brilliant cross in front of goal for Amine Chermiti who leaps high but ends up heading the ball way over.
24'
Corner
Mohamed Larbi takes a corner from the left. He delivers it inside the box but it is collected by Vishal Kaith easily.
23'
Heavy ball
Laldinliana Renthlei tries to give a long ball to Dragos Firtulescu inside the box but Amrinder Singh quickly comes off his line and collects it.
16'
Ambitious
Mohammed Rafique from way outside the box on the right shoots the ball but it is off target.
16'
Up and over the bar!
Lallianzuala Chhangte gets the ball on the left. He makes a run and then passes it to Jerry Lalrinzuala who takes the shot but hits it over.
15'
Penalty?
Diego Carlos tries to control a long ball on the left inside the box. Laldinliana Renthlei makes a run along with him to win the ball but pushes him. Mumbai City FC appeal for a penalty but the referee gives it as a corner. Mohamed Larbi takes the resulting corner but it is easily cleared away by Chennaiyin FC.
10'
Poor cross
Dragos Firtulescu wins the ball in the middle and dashes ahead with the ball. He then passes it to his right for Laldinliana Renthlei who tries to cross inside the box but ends up hitting it way over at the far post for a goal-kick.
6'
Offside
Mohamed Larbi from middle of the park gives a brilliant through ball for Modou Sougou who tries to control the ball but the linesman raises the flag to signal the move as offside.
3'
Punched away
Dragos Firtulescu takes the corner from the right. He delivers it inside the box but Amrinder Singh leaps high and punches it away.
1'
Good clearance
Dragos Firtulescu from the right makes a move and gives a through ball to find Rafael Crivellaro inside the box. Crivellaro looks to cross at the near post but Pratik Chaudhari blocks it out for a corner. Meanwhile, Sourav Das is down injured and there is a small stoppage.
1'
Kickoff
Chennaiyin FC get us underway in this half! They are attacking from left to right in this half.
Toss
Mumbai City FC have won the toss and they choose to attack from right to left.
National Anthem
Both sides make their way out of the tunnel and are standing either side of the referees for the Indian National Anthem.
Chennaiyin FC Playing XI
Vishal Kaith (GK), Laldinliana Renthlei, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Eli Sabia, Lucian Goian (C), Rafael Crivellaro, Anirudh Thapa, Edwin Vanspaul, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Dragos Firtulescu, Nerijus Valskis.
Mumbai City FC host Chennaiyin FC in what is going to be an encounter which might decide the final semi-final spot. Mumbai City FC will be looking for nothing less than a win after their fixture against FC Goa ended in a demoralizing loss. What might make them feel relieved is their home form, as they have been unbeaten at their home stadium for their last three games and would hope that they can put in a terrific performance to enter the semi-finals. A draw won't knock them out but they would not want to push their luck and would be pushing hard for a victory. Their attack led by Diego Carlos has looked threatening and with Amine Chermiti returning for this game, the attacking front gets more stronger. Their defense though has been poor and would be looking to improve in the coming game against the Super Machans. Chennaiyin FC, on the other hand, will also be looking for a win today to qualify for the semi-finals and they have a slight advantage as they have one more game in hand and even if the game ends in a draw, the Marina Machans can still enter the final 4 with a win in their final group league fixture. They have won 5 of their last 6 games. Their new coach, Owen Coyle has been at the centre of their turnaround after a poor start to the season. The attacking front has been brilliant for them and they would look upon them to perform even better in this crunch game. They have never won a game in Mumbai and that fact might haunt them. It promises to be a nail-biting encounter. Join us in a while to find out who comes out on top.