Chennaiyin FC’s pursuit of a home victory was once again frustrated as the team settled for a 2-2 draw with FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday night. The match, marked by intense back-and-forth play and a controversial late equalizer, kept Chennaiyin coach Owen Coyle’s side winless at home this season.
Coyle, who recently signed a contract extension with Chennaiyin through 2026, faced a mixed evening as Goa found the net on either side of the announcement, threatening his team’s position in the Indian Super League standings.
The visiting FC Goa dominated the flow of play for large portions of the game, with Chennaiyin’s attacks often appearing formulaic and predictable. The home team relied heavily on crosses aimed at Wilmar Jordan Gil, but Goa’s defense held strong, limiting Chennaiyin’s progress in the attacking third.
Brazilian midfielder Lukas Brambilla, however, brought some flair to Chennaiyin’s play, orchestrating the opening goal. After breaking through Goa’s defense, Brambilla’s aggressive shot ricocheted off an unsuspecting Jordan Gil and into the net, giving Chennaiyin a surprising lead.
Goa, however, didn’t take long to respond. Udanta Singh headed in a corner from Akash Sangwan, leveling the score just before halftime and showcasing his agility in the box. The equalizer came shortly after Chennaiyin’s banner unveiling Coyle’s contract extension, which the coach briefly acknowledged before hurrying back to his team.
But as the second half began, Goa showed no signs of slowing, and just five minutes in, they won a penalty after Drazic was brought down by Chennaiyin’s goalkeeper, Samik Mitra. Armando Sadiku coolly converted, putting Goa ahead and silencing the Chennai crowd.
Coyle made several strategic substitutions, including Vincy Barretto, Elsinho, and Gurkirat Singh, in hopes of breaking down Goa’s well-organized defense. However, the home team continued to struggle to create clear chances. It was only in the 77th minute that Chennaiyin found a lifeline: Daniel Chima Chukwu’s header off a free-kick rebounded off the crossbar, and after a scramble in the box, the referee controversially ruled it a goal despite Goa keeper Kattimani’s protests that the ball hadn’t crossed the line.
Spurred on by the home fans, Chennaiyin pushed hard in the closing minutes, with Chukwu nearly sealing the win in stoppage time. His header from a Gurkirat cross was on target, but Kattimani’s acrobatic save preserved the 2-2 scoreline.
With this draw, Chennaiyin FC moved up to fifth place in the standings, while Goa climbed above Mumbai City FC into eighth. Both teams will now look to regroup as Chennaiyin aims for a long-awaited home victory and FC Goa seeks to build on its resilient performance.
