Photo courtesy: FC Goa

FC Goa beat Chennaiyin FC 2-0 in Match 30 of the Indian Super League (ISL) Season 2 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, on Thursday night.

Rafael won both the penalties that were converted by Léo Moura (64’) and Jonatan Lucca (78’) as the Gaurs recorded their second away win of the season and moved to the number one spot in the standings with 14 points from eight matches while Marco Materazzi’s side remain fourth with 10 points having played the same number of matches.

Both teams came in with four changes to their respective starting lineups. Rafael Coelho Luiz made his FC Goa debut in place of Joaquim Abranches, the wingers in Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Rao Dessai were replaced by Raju Gaikwad and Narayan Das while Laxmikant Kattimani took his place in goal instead of Elinton Andrade.

In came Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Bernard Mendy, Fikru Teferra and Dhanachandra Singh in place of Manuel Blasi, Lalhmangihsanga Ralte, Mailson Alves and Jeje Lalpekhlua for Chennaiyin FC.

John Stiven Mendoza and Elano Blumer flared in attack from early until the visitors started getting forward to earn a few set pieces among which Lucca’s free kick deflected wide.

Moura slipped in a dangerous cross intended for Thongkhosiem Haokip in the 14th minute but it was crucially intercepted by Chennaiyin defender Mehrajuddin Wadoo.

Two minutes later, Elano combined well with Mendozo and almost put the latter through on goal but stopped by foul by Luciano Sobrosa while the resultant free kick taken by Elano was block by the wall.

Going past the half hour mark, neither teams were able to create any clear cut chances for themselves as play was mostly restricted to the center of the park.

In the 35th minute, Mendoza lashed out in a counterattack and picked out Elano on the right. However, the Brazilian’s attempt was blocked by Narayan Das for a corner. The flag kick taken by Elano from the right saw a near miss by Mendoza who missed the far post by a whisker.

Before the scoreboard could read 0-0 at half time, Wadoo put in another timely challenge in the Chennaiyin box to deny Haokip a shot at goal after some good work between Narayan and Moura.

At the change of ends, Moura found himself in a good position in the opponent’s box but Chennaiyin goalkeeper Karanjit Singh put himself in the way of the shot.

A lengthy battle to find the breakthrough came to an end in the 64th minute when Moura found the back of the net off a spot kick which was a result of Bernard Mendy’s foul on Rafael who was the last man on goal inside the Chennaiyin box.

Soon after, it could have been 2-0 for Goa but Haokip missed to get on the end of Rafael’s cross from the right.

A chance for the home team in the 70th minute saw Mendoza beat the offside trap to receive a long ball by Khabra, but the Colombian’s first touch was disappointing as the ball fell kindly for FC Goa goalkeeper Kattimani.

Rafael won his side another penalty as his shot off Moura’s cross from the right came off Wadoo’s hand. Lucca stepped on the 12 yards mark and calmly placed the ball in the right corner to double his side’s lead in the 78th minute.

In the 89th minute, referee Santosh Kumar had no choice than to flash a straight red card to Khabra, whose ban of four matches was reduced to two before this tie, for his dangerous tackle wherein the Chennaiyin player put his studs on Moura’s right leg.