An unnecessary error from Chennai City FC’s goalkeeper Kabir resulted in the side’s 1-0 loss to Chennai FC in a St. Joseph’s-CFA senior division league match here on Thursday.
Chennai City looked on the money from the beginning and dominated the proceedings in the first-half creating quite a few chances, especially, with forward Shijin managing a few shots on target.
Chennai FC showed some urgency after the break and in the 64th minute, a deliberate back pass from the midfield was handled by the Chennai City FC custodian, giving Chennai FC an indirect free-kick. N.D. Opara gleefully accepted the chance and scored the only goal of the evening to give his side three crucial points and keep its title hopes alive.
While Chennai City FC players were aghast at the referee’s decision to award the free-kick, the goalkeeper ought to have done better and cleared the ball instead of trying to control it with the leg and then handling it.
After conceding the goal, City was not able to maintain the flow as in the first half and slumped to its third defeat.
Though Chennai FC had quite a few chances in the second-half, with Opara failing to connect a beautiful cross from A. Don Bosco, the side will be happy with the lucky break on a day it was far from perfect.
The results:
Senior div.: Chennai FC 1 (N.D. Opara 64) bt Chennai City FC 0.
I div.: Chennai United FC 3 (Baba Tunde 31, 57, K. Kaviarasan 73) bt YMSC 1 (D. Gerald 37).
