Chennaiyin FC had to settle for a 1-1 draw against FC Pune City in a Hero Indian Super League (ISL) match on Tuesday. The visitors could have claimed three points, but they had to pay for their poor finishing at the end.
“We feel we have dropped two points again as we created plenty of chances and hit the woodwork twice,” Chennaiyin FC assistant coach Vivek Nagul stated during the post-match press conference at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium. “Luck was not on our side today while Pune goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya was also in great form.”
Chennaiyin FC’s Indian international striker Balwant Singh agreed that his side missed to many chances. “Yes we missed a lot of chances and were also a bit unlucky sometimes, especially in the first half. Marco just told us to keep going and we were eventually rewarded,” Balwant told. “They (FC Pune City) are a good side and they also had a lot of chances but I think we could have won this with a bit more luck. We will try to get maximum points again in the next game.”
FC Pune City took the lead nine minutes into the game, while Chennaiyin FC could have equalised a few minuutes later from the penalty spot. But Brazilian star midfielder Elano missed the penalty to the surprise of the Chennaiyin FC supporters. “Yes I couldn’t believe it. I was sure he would score. But these things happen in football, I am confident Elano will convert the next penalty that he gets,” Nagul said.
Talking about the performance by Colombian striker John Stiven Mendoza Valencia, Nagul stated, “He was outstanding today. We are not surprised at all, because we have seen him in training. He has great individual quality and was unlucky not to score more goals today.”
Chennaiyin FC are placed second in the Hero Indian Super League table with twelve points from seven matches, while Atlético de Kolkata remain top of the table with the same number of points and matches but a better goal difference.
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