Mendoza’s brace piles more misery on Mumbai City FC as Chennaiyin FC win again

by Siddharth Yadav October 17, 2015

Marco Materazzi’s Chennaiyin FC started from where they had left FC Goa 4-0 as they ran over Mumbai City FC 2-0 at Dr. D.Y Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai on Friday evening. It was Stiven Mendoza yet again who stole the show as his brace helped the visitor to silence the home crowd. This was Mendoza’s fifth goal of this season’s Indian Super League.

With Mumbai City welcoming back their key players like Sunil Chhetri, Subrata Paul, Ashutosh Mehta as they were off to National duties, it was clearly evident that Mumbai City will give a hard fight to Chennaiyin FC but the trio of Jayesh Rane, Skipper Elano and Stiven Mendoza had other plans.

Chennaiyin largely stuck with the same starting eleven that beat FC Goa 4-0, the only difference being the reintroduction of Alessandro Potenza in the back line after he was rested for the previous game. Whereas Mumbai City made a surprise change in their line-up as Gabriel Fernandes was replaced by Benachour.

It was Mumbai City who started the match with some intent as Sunil Chhetri saw his header going just over the bar from a corner on 2^nd minute of the match.

Just inside five minutes Mumbai City had three corners which showed how much the host has prepared for this clash against Chennaiyin FC. Mumbai City needed an early goal which would have put them on front seat but somehow Chennaiyin FC’s defender kept them out.

Soon Subrata Paul was tested as he brilliantly showed some reflexes to save Stiven Mendoza’s deflected shot.

On 26^th minute, Raphael Augusto of Chennaiyin FC fancied his luck from range as he saw his brilliant effort saved by Subrata Paul as he parries it onto his post.

Mumbai City kept majority of the ball possession as they fancy to do but failing to convert their chances into goals kept frustrating them.

Just before the half-time, Haitian Sonny Norde almost scored directly from the corner, his shot was tipped over by Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper, Edel.

Subrata Paul was in fine touch as brilliant saved yet another shot, this time it was Chennaiyin FC’s Skipper, Elano who tested the Indian goalkeeper.

With the game being played tight at the back by both teams, the opener came due to a slip-up in the second half by Mumbai City player Pratesh Shirodkar whose poor pass in defence was intercepted by Elano. The Brazilian then played it to Mendoza for a finish into the empty net.

Six minutes later, Stiven Mendoza doubled Chennaiyin FC’s lead as Mendoza was the quickest to react to a shot from Jayesh Rane coming off the crossbar and headed in past Subrata Paul, leaving Mumbai City’s players and fans in anguish.

It was Stiven Mendoza’s fifth goal of the season who didn’t showed any mercy towards Mumbai City.

Gabriel Fernandes, who was subbed in later in the second-half almost made an impact as danced his way into the box which was cleared off by Chennaiyin FC’s defender.

Mendoza was denied a chance to score his second hat-trick in as many games as a knock forced him to make way for Fikru Teferra.

Chennaiyin FC kept sitting back comfortably and defended their score line until the final whistle.

Mumbai City miserable continues as they are yet to win this season, meanwhile Chennaiyin FC moved to 3^rd place in the Hero Indian Super League standings.

For his double strike, Chennaiyin FC’s Stiven Mendoza was named “Hero Player of the match”.