Chennaiyin FC registered back-to-back wins in the current season of the Indian Super League after beating NorthEast United away from home 1-0 on Thursday in Guwahati. Davide Succi scored off a brilliant volley to give his side three points in a game that turned out to be a fascinating tactical battle between the sides.
United, who played with such carefree abandon in the previous game, were marked tightly by Bernard Mendy, and that went a long way setting the two sides apart in the contest. It was Chennaiyin who created the few good chances that came out in a feisty first-half battle.
However, United keeper Subrata Paul was immense in front of the sticks, and thwarted every Chennaiyin attempt on goal. Succi got a sniff when the ball ran loose in the penalty area after a deflection — Paul pounced on it before the striker got his foot on it.
Where Paul truly showed his class was his athletic jump to tip Hans Mulder's shot over the bar. The game was still bogged down in a midfield battle in the second half, and Succi produced a brilliant piece of skill to slam the ball home.
United's best chance came through Romaric's free-kick from 25 yards out — the ball went inches over the bar. There were a couple of superbly executed last-ditch tackles too from the visitors as they sat back and invited attacks in the last quarter of the game.
Emiliano Afano, who was a subdued presence because of Chennaiyin's marking, got his only chance in the last minute of normal time but he could not control his header goalwards. This was Chennaiyin's first ever win against United after losing thrice and drawing once in previous encounters.
Brief scores:
NorthEast United 0 lose to Chennaiyin FC 1 (Davide Succi)