The Chennaiyin FC Under-15 team posted a comprehensive 4-1 victory over the Raman Vijayan Soccer School Under-15s in their penultimate 2018-19 Hero Junior League Chennai zone outing at the TAFDC Ground in Chennai today. All four of Chennaiyin’s goals came in the first period, with four different goalscorers getting onto the scoresheet. With the win, CFC now go to 14 points in second place, a point behind FC Madras at the top with one group game to go. With an unassailable lead over the remaining group opponents, CFC have now confirmed a top-two finish in the Chennai zone, meaning they either qualify directly for the final round or for the play-off round ahead of the final round – both to be held in Kolkata later this month.

The CFC U-15s take on Chennai City FC U-15s away from home in their final Chennai zone encounter on Sunday 5th May 2019 away at the Chettinad School Ground. The group winner from the Chennai zone secures direct entry to the final round of the competition; while the side that finishes second in the Chennai zone will have to fight it out in the playoff round in order to secure a spot in the final round.

If the CFC U-15s finish second in the Chennai zone, they will be pitted in Group B of the playoff round alongside three other teams – Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG) Football Academy U-15s (Rest of India Zone Group B winners), Rest of India Zone Group A winners and the third best group winners across the three Mumbai zones. And if they manage to win the playoff round, they progress to Group A in the final round.

And if the CFC U-15s finish first in the Chennai zone, they will qualify directly for the final round and will be slotted in Group D alongside Bengaluru FC U-15s, the second-best group winners across the three Mumbai zones and play-off round Group C winners.

Chennaiyin made two changes to the side that played out a goalless draw with FC Madras three days back. Defender K. Suriya and striker Mohamed Liyaakath swapped places in the starting lineup with N. Sivamani and K. Suriya respectively.

It was a dominating performance from CFC, who began brightly and took the lead within the opening ten minutes. Versatile midfielder Rahul K. Manjula took an ambitious shot from the left flank that went in off the post, much to the opposition’s surprise and dismay.

RVSS were unable to get the ball out of their own half as CFC continued to pile on the pressure. The second goal followed soon after as striker S. Yugan scored a wonderful solo goal after dribbling past four RVSS players, finishing with calmness for his fourth goal of the season.

Chennaiyin’s third goal after large spells of controlled possession. Striker K. Suriya provided the assist for this one from the left, spotting Caron Kennedy’s run into the box. The latter took a touch in the box and scored with ease to make it 3-0.

Suriya then got onto the scoresheet himself two minutes later, when Taufiq Ahamed found him similarly in the box. Suriya received the ball, turned a defender and unleashed, leaving no chance for the keeper.

RVSS did manage to pull a goal back in the second half following an error by Chennaiyin on the right flank. However, after that CFC continued their domination but failed to take any of their chances.

(Chennaiyin FC)