Owen Coyle’s Chennaiyin FC suffered a surprising 0-1 loss to newly promoted Mohammedan Sporting in their ISL clash on Thursday evening. In their first home game of the season at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennaiyin failed to secure a win, extending a winless streak in their ISL home openers that dates back to October 2014.
The result marked a historic moment for Mohammedan Sporting, as they claimed their first-ever victory in the Indian Super League (ISL). Despite Chennaiyin dominating the opening stages of the game, the Black Panthers capitalized on defensive errors to silence nearly 10,000 home fans.
From the kickoff, Chennaiyin piled on the pressure, launching waves of attacks. By the 30th minute, they had seven shots on goal, with three chances created by Conor Shields, the team’s set-piece specialist. Shields, who delivered 12 crosses in their previous match, was a key figure in Chennaiyin’s assault, yet the team was unable to break through.
The home side appeared to be in control, supported by their energetic fans. Farukh Choudhary, who scored twice in their last match against Odisha, was particularly lively. However, Mohammedan’s head coach, Andre Chernyshov, waited patiently for an opportunity to strike back. His tactical approach mirrored that of Lobanovsky, another manager from the Soviet Union, known for counter-attacking football.
The turning point came after the first-half cooling break. A line-splitting long ball from Vanlalzuidika Chhakchhuak exposed Chennaiyin’s defense, which had been playing a dangerously high line. Laldinliana Renthlei’s miscommunication with captain Ryan Edwards allowed Mohammedan’s Alexis Gomez to pounce. Though Gomez’s shot struck the woodwork, it was a warning sign of what was to come.
In the 40th minute, another long ball from Chhakchhuak led to the decisive moment. PC Laldinpuia’s mistake allowed Fanai Lalremsanga to capitalize, slotting the ball past goalkeeper Samik Mitra to give Mohammedan a 1-0 lead. The stunned crowd fell silent as the visitors celebrated.
In the second half, Owen Coyle made attacking substitutions, bringing on Kiyan Nassiri, Gurkirat Singh, and Wilmar Jordan Gil in an attempt to break Mohammedan’s heavy low-block defense. However, the Black Panthers held firm with seven players regularly behind the ball, frustrating Chennaiyin’s offensive efforts.
The match had one final twist in stoppage time when Laldinpuia conceded a penalty, offering Chennaiyin a lifeline. Yet, Cesar Manzoki’s spot-kick missed the mark, sealing Chennaiyin’s fate. Moments later, Mohammedan’s Lukas Brambilla nearly doubled the lead, but a goal-line clearance from Chhakchhuak and Gaurav Bora ensured a 1-0 victory for the visitors.
Chennaiyin FC will look to rebound when they face Hyderabad FC on October 1, while Mohammedan Sporting heads into a high-stakes mini-Kolkata derby against Mohun Bagan Super Giant four days later.
