Chennai FC (CFC) virtually sealed the St. Joseph’s-Chennai Football Association senior division league title, after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Indian Bank here on Sunday.
With a match remaining against already-relegated RBI, Chennai FC is expected to tally an unassailable 28 points with an easy victory.
The title-decider lived up to its billing, with CFC making a brisk start when Hamza Anaba provided a wonderful pass to Deepak Prakash, who missed a simple tap-in.
But Indian Bank converted the opportunity that came its way when Saravana Kumar’s long-ranger from 40 yards took ’keeper Montu Mallick by surprise.
Undeterred, CFC continued to raid the rival’s box in search of an equaliser. It came with five minutes remaining in the first half when Deepak’s flag kick was headed home by Raja Pandi.
There was no shortage of entertainment in the second half. Live-wire Raja Pandi used his speed from the right to provide crosses and Indian Bank lived dangerously in the first few minutes.
The concerted attack brought Indian Bank the lead when O.J. Abhi, who was brought down by Gnana Sekaran, converted the resultant penalty.
The joy, however, was short-lived, as CFC equalised again in the next minute, the culprit was Jayanth. Edwin Sydney Vanspaul’s feeble cross from the left saw the ’keeper fumble, and Hamza scored.
As the match was finely poised with either team unwilling to concede any ground, the bolt from the blue came from Suraj, who, in the 61-st minute, fired a shot from inside the box that went past the outstretched hands of ’keeper Jayanth Kumar.
India Bank, after conceding the third goal, fought tooth and nail and pushed CFC back with well-worked out moves from the right wing in the last 20-odd minutes. But the bank men couldn’t find the equaliser.
“By God’s grace, we’ve done it,” said CFC chief coach Robin Charles Raja. “The key to our success is that we stayed together for nearly four months, training hard, and our good bench strength. Also, I have to acknowledge our management’s support.”
Syed Sabir Pasha was a satisfied man. “We might have lost the match but we won the hearts of fans with our performance.”
Pasha added that missing Romario to an ankle injury midway in the first half was a big blow for the team.
The results: Senior div.: Chennai FC 3 (Raja Pandi 40, Jagaba Hamza Anaba 56, Suraj 61) bt Indian Bank 2 (Saravana Kumar 20, O.J. Abhi-pen 55).
First div.: Chennai United FC 3 (Baba Tunde 30, 40 & 50) bt Eleven Warriors 1 (Obiaja Fred 35).
