Last-season’s table-topper Chennaiyin FC and eventual champion Atletico de Kolkata begin their ISL 2015 campaign in Chennai. For the host, it has been all about getting its combination right at the pre-season training in Perugia (Italy).
“Last time we were the last to put a team together but we still did well by reaching the semifinals. This time we had more time to organise, we started from scratch. We are looking forward to a great season,” said Marco Materazzi, Chennaiyin FC head coach.
Antonio Lopez Habas, head coach of ATK, said he was happy with his team and reiterated that he would continue to employ the same strategy as the first edition of the league, and all he needs is a win and nothing else. >Read more
Game preview: > Chennaiyin FC vs. Atletico de Kolkata
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Here are the live updates:
9:00 pm: Referee blows the final whistle. ATK win the first match of ISL 2015.
8:57 pm: ATK make a tactical change. Izumi on for Grande.
8:55 pm: Five additional minutes added.
8:55 pm: 90' It's all happening here! Scramble in ATK's box as home side appeals for a handball. Ref says play on.
8:53 pm: Elano reduces the deficit, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and the crowd into a frenzy. It's 3-2, game on.
8:52 pm: Elano steps up....
8:51pm: Penalty for Chennaiyin! 87' Refree points to the spot.
8:49 pm: 85' ATK make a change. Sushil comes on for Sahn.
8:48 pm: Only 7 minutes remaining. Chennaiyin need something special to salvage a win from here. Elano skies the freekick.
8:47 pm: 83' Yet another freekick won by Chennaiyin's Elano. Right outside the box.
8:46 pm: 81' Substitution for Chennaiyin FC as Ralte comes off for Balwant Singh.
8:45 pm: 81' Corner for Chennaiyinn as Mendoza forces a fine save from ATK's custodian.
8:43 pm: Penalty saved! Apoula dives to his right and pulls off a brilliant save.
8:42 pm: 78' Penalty! It's going downhill for the home side as Chennaiyin's Mendy is penalised for a handball.
8:40 pm: Valdo who replaced injured Postiga helps ATK score its 3rd GOAL!
8:36 pm: Postiga seems to have injured himself during the celebrations. Looks like a hamstring injury, might be out for a few weeks.
8:34 pm: 69' GOAL! Disastrous back pass from Mendy gifts ATK's Postiga a simple one-on-one finish. 2-1.
8:24 pm: Sena Ralte gets booked.
8:23 pm: Possession right now: Chennaiyin 44%, Atletico de Kolkata 56%
8:20 pm: Elano takes a corner kick, but the danger is easily thwarted.
8:18 pm : Hume fires the ball over the net. A great chance there!
8:12 pm : Bernard Mendy is on for Chennaiyin FC in place of Mailson.
8:09 pm: Second-half gets underway.
7:54 pm: Halftime at the Marina Arena. Both teams head into break with score reading 1-1.
7:52 pm: Elano with a free-kick from 27 yards but doesn't manage to break the defence.
7:48 pm: ATK squander get another chance. Javi Lara fires it straight into the box which was easily deflected.
7:44 pm: Baljit Sahni gets yellow-carded.
7:43 pm: That was the first goal Atletico de Kolkata conceded in almost 400 minutes of football.
7:40 pm: Brilliant partnering between Jeje & Fikru at 30' to get that much needed equaliser! It''s all square at the MarinaArena. 1-1!
7:37 pm: Jeje nets the equaliser, crowd goes wild...
7:36 pm: And there's the goal that Chennaiyin were looking for. Game on!
7:35 pm: A good set of passes from the Chennaiyin FC attackers before a weak shot is comfortably blocked by the keeper.
7: 33 pm: Poor decision from the linesman as he calls an offside for an Atletico de Kolkata run in.
7:32 pm: 21 mins in and Chennaiyin FC are down by a GOAL at the Marina Arena.
7:27 pm: Ex-Atletico de Kolkata frontman Fikru looked dangerous for a minute there in the D-box, but misses the target. Both sides showing attacking intent.
7:20 pm: GOAALL! Postiga scores the first goal of ISL 2015.Big mistake by keeper Edel Apoula there.
7:18 pm: Fikru gets the first real chance, but scuffs it wide.
7:16 pm: Another free kick from the same spot, squandered by Atletico de Kolkata.
7:15 pm: Free kick deflected of Chennaiyin defender, who gets a yellow card. Quite harsh, say commentators.
7:13 pm: Yellow card for Harmanjot Khabra for using his arm to block a free kick.
7:10 pm: A stray dog enters the field, causes minor delay in the proceedings.
7:08 pm: Chennaiyin FC have the first corner of the game. Jeje leaps in the air but his header is a bit off target.
7:02 pm: Players are walking out of the tunnel and the game is about to begin.
7:01 pm: The national anthem is being played.
6:40 pm: Chennaiyin FC starting XI: Edel Apoula (GK), Lalhmangaihsanga Sena Ralte, Abhishek, Mailson, Alessandro Potenza, Thoi Singh, Elano (C), Harmanjot Khabra, Raphael Augusto, Fikru, Jeje.
6:37 pm: Starting line-up of Atletico de Kolkata -Amrinder (GK), Arnab, Rino Anto, Augustin Fernandes, Javi Lara, Jaime Gavilan, Borja Fernandez (C), Ofentse Nato, Iain Hume, Baljit Sahni, Helder Postiga.
(Nita Ambani and Rajnikanth during the opening ceremony of the ISL. Photo: R. Ragu)
6:28 pm: Actor Rajinikanth, Sachin Tendulkar, who is also the co-owner of Kerala Blasters, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Alia Bhatt are part of the opening ceremony.
(Sachin Tendulkar, Rajinikanth, Nita Ambani, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Alia Bhatt during the opening ceremony of the ISL. Photo: R. Ragu)
6:23 pm: Opening ceremony of Indian Super League 2015 gets underway with cultural performances.
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