Chennaiyin’s AFC Cup group stage debut ends in a goalless stalemate.
CFC midfielder Chris Herd in action against Minerva Punjab in the AFC Cup match
Chennai:
After a slow opening few minutes, Chennaiyin grew into the match with a succession of quick chances. The first fell to Jeje Lalpekhlua in the Minerva box, but the striker’s shot deflected out for a corner. The resulting set-piece saw Eli Sabia head it wayward.
A minute later, CK Vineeth outmuscled Mahmoud Al-Amna in the middle of the park and freed Thoi Singh on the right flank. The Manipuri winger found Jeje in the box, who laid it up for Raphael Augusto. The Brazilian’s strike went above the crossbar. The away side then tested CFC keeper Karanjit Singh from distance in the 25th minute.
Ghanaian midfielder Kalif Alhassan’s shot was parried away by the custodian. Few minutes later, Samuel Lalmuanpuia stung Karanjit’s gloves with another shot. From the corner, Alhassan’s header hit the upright and went out for a goal-kick. It became a tighter affair as the half progressed. Both sides continued to create inroads but the play in the final third lacked precision. The teams went into the break without disturbing the scoreboard.
Minerva made a change soon after the restart, with Moinuddin replacing Prabhjot Singh. And Chennaiyin brought on Anirudh Thapa for Halicharan Narzary. The first big chance of the second period fell CFC’s way on the hour mark. Thoi’s header off a Tondonba Singh cross went agonizingly wide of the far post.
Vineeth then had a couple of shots from distance but to no avail. Soon after, Thapa led a break for CFC and spread the ball wide to Thoi, who charged into the box and fired in a low cross that was headed away well by Kareem Nurain. The host made its second change of the evening when midfielder Dhanpal Ganesh came on for Thoi. The Chennai man joined Aussie Chris Herd in the middle of the park. Minerva made its final change soon after as Thoiba Singh replaced Samuel.
Thapa put in an energetic cameo performance, leading the charge for CFC in the final third. Chennaiyin continued to knock on the Minerva door in the closing minutes, with Thapa central to its cause.
But the visitor held on as its maiden AFC Cup group stage game ended in a goalless stalemate. In the group’s other game earlier in the day, Bangladesh’s Abahani Limited Dhaka beat Nepal’s Manang Marshyangdi 1-0 away from home.
Chennaiyin FC drew 0-0 with Minerva Punjab in an all-Indian 2019 AFC Cup group stage opener at The Arena by TransStadia in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
After a slow opening few minutes, Chennaiyin grew into the match with a succession of quick chances. The first fell to Jeje Lalpekhlua in the Minerva box, but the striker’s shot deflected out for a corner. The resulting set-piece saw Eli Sabia head it wayward.
A minute later, CK Vineeth outmuscled Mahmoud Al-Amna in the middle of the park and freed Thoi Singh on the right flank. The Manipuri winger found Jeje in the box, who laid it up for Raphael Augusto. The Brazilian’s strike went above the crossbar. The away side then tested CFC keeper Karanjit Singh from distance in the 25th minute.
Ghanaian midfielder Kalif Alhassan’s shot was parried away by the custodian. Few minutes later, Samuel Lalmuanpuia stung Karanjit’s gloves with another shot. From the corner, Alhassan’s header hit the upright and went out for a goal-kick. It became a tighter affair as the half progressed. Both sides continued to create inroads but the play in the final third lacked precision. The teams went into the break without disturbing the scoreboard.
Minerva made a change soon after the restart, with Moinuddin replacing Prabhjot Singh. And Chennaiyin brought on Anirudh Thapa for Halicharan Narzary. The first big chance of the second period fell CFC’s way on the hour mark. Thoi’s header off a Tondonba Singh cross went agonizingly wide of the far post.
Vineeth then had a couple of shots from distance but to no avail. Soon after, Thapa led a break for CFC and spread the ball wide to Thoi, who charged into the box and fired in a low cross that was headed away well by Kareem Nurain. The host made its second change of the evening when midfielder Dhanpal Ganesh came on for Thoi. The Chennai man joined Aussie Chris Herd in the middle of the park. Minerva made its final change soon after as Thoiba Singh replaced Samuel.
Thapa put in an energetic cameo performance, leading the charge for CFC in the final third. Chennaiyin continued to knock on the Minerva door in the closing minutes, with Thapa central to its cause.
But the visitor held on as its maiden AFC Cup group stage game ended in a goalless stalemate. In the group’s other game earlier in the day, Bangladesh’s Abahani Limited Dhaka beat Nepal’s Manang Marshyangdi 1-0 away from home.