Defending champion Chennaiyin FC’s campaign continued to go downhill, slumping to a third straight defeat in as many games. It lost 4-3 loss to NorthEast United FC here on Thursday.
However, unlike the first two defeats, this loss would rattle the team’s confidence as it was comfortably placed (3-1) by the 32nd minute. The team defended poorly, allowing NEUFC to score two quick goals in the next seven minutes.
The home team’s lead came from an own goal by Rowllin Borges in the fifth minute.
CFC’s domination was rewarded again when Jerry Lalrinzuala sent a looping ball to Issac on the left, who then set up a perfect cross for Thoi Singh to tap it in and double the lead in the 15th minute.
CFC, then, looked like it stepped off the pedal a bit and was punished soon by NEUFC skipper Bartholomew Ogbeche at the half-hour mark.
Federico Gallego’s shot was blocked from the left. It fell near Eli Sabia who made a mess of it in his attempts to clear the ball. This allowed Ogbeche to run in from behind and score.
The home team counterattacked with Raphael Augusto producing a beautiful run on the left flank to send a perfect cross to Thoi Singh who backheeled it rather clumsily but did enough to make it 3-1.
But the visitor produced two magical moments in the space of two minutes to draw level.
In the 37th minute, Borges sent in a nice chip to skipper Ogbeche who controlled it with his chest and calmly sent it past the keeper.
CFC was caught napping when Gallego sent in a ball from behind the centre-line and Ogbeche produced a fine run to cut the keeper to the left and slotted it behind him to complete his hat-trick.
After the break, a poor clearance from Mailson Alves off a shot from Reagan Singh fell just outside the boxBorges won the ball from Anirudh Thapa and put it to the right corner for what would be the winning goal.
The result: Chennaiyin FC 3 (Rowllin Borges 5(OG), Thoi Singh 15, 32) lost to NorthEast United FC 4 (Bartholomew Ogbeche 29, 37, 39, Rowllin Borges 54).