Chennai (Tamil Nadu)[India], February 15 (ANI): Punjab FC went down 1-2 to Chennaiyin FC after conceding a late goal in an Indian Super League encounter which was played here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Luka Majcen equalised at the start of the second half after Punjab FC conceded through a penalty in the first half which was scored by Wilmar Jordan Gil. Daniel Chima Chukwu broke Punjab hearts in the 84th minute scoring the winner.
Punjab remain on ninth position in the table with 24 points from 20 matches while Chennaiyin are one place below with the same points from 21 matches, a release said.
With the preferred centre-back pairing of Ivan Novoselec and Suresh Meitei suspended, Nikhil Prabhu slotted in the backline along with Melroy Assisi, Tekcham Abhishek Singh and Khaimingthang Lhungdim. Ashis Pradhan started in the midfield along Ricky Shabong and Head Coach Panagiotis Dilmperis had the luxury of fielding an all foreign attacking four of Pulga Vidal, Asmir Suljic, Filip Mrzljak and Petros Giakoumakis. Ravi Kumar kept his place in goal. Chennaiyin FC Head Coach Owen Coyle fielded his eleven in a 4-4-2 formation with former Punjab FC striker Wilmar Jordan Gil, Connor Shields, Kiyan Nassiri and Irfan Yadwad leading the attack.
Punjab FC created the first chance of the game with Filip Mrzljak forcing a save out of Mohammad Nawaz after he was set up by Petros Giakoumakis. The Shers conceded the first goal after controlling the game for the first phase. Melroy conceded a penalty as the ball struck the defender’s hand inside the box while trying to shield Wilmar Jordan. The Colombian striker made no mistake converting the resulting penalty. Mrzljak had a couple of chances to find the equaliser but the midfielder could not find the target before he was replaced after getting injured. The last minutes of the half was end to end, with chances created at both ends. Substitute Muhammad Suhail put in a couple of dangerous crosses from the left wing which could not find the intended target while at the other end Ravi Kumar made two wonderful one on one saves, both from Irfan Yadwad to keep the home side’s lead to a single goal.
The Sheers took the lead three minutes into the second half with Luka Majcen finishing off a wonderful team move. Asmir Suljic found Pulga Vidal at the end of the box and the Argentinian found Luka with a pin point pass inside the box which the Slovenian buried it past the goalkeeper. Luka could not capitalise on three more chances to score within five minutes, all three being setup by the energetic Suhail as the forward could not put the finishing touches after finding himself in promising positions inside the box.
Punjab kept on creating pressure on the home side but the final output was missing with the team unable to convert the chances. The Shers were punished for those misses as Chennaiyin took the lead six minutes from time. Substitutes Lukas Brambilla and Daniel Chima Chukwu combined as the former found Chukwu completely free inside the six yard box which the striker poked inside the net.
Punjab pushed hard for the equaliser in the final minutes and the injury time but were thwarted twice by the goalkeeper saving efforts from Luka Majcen and Pulga Vidal and there was also a goal line clearance from the Chennaiyin defence from a right footed effort by Vidal. In the end, Chennaiyin somehow held on to the slender lead to earn three crucial points.
Punjab FC will be back at home in New Delhi for their next fixture to face East Bengal on 22nd February which will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. (ANI)
Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed of ANI; only the image & headline may have been reworked by News Services Division of World News Network Inc Ltd and Palghar News and Pune News and World News
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