Chennaiyin FC slumped to a 1-2 defeat against Inter Kashi in their ISL 2025-26 clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday, with defensive errors proving decisive in a tightly contested encounter.
Heading into the match under pressure, both teams started cautiously, aware of the stakes involved in the lower half of the table. Chennaiyin dominated possession early on but struggled to translate control into meaningful chances. Meanwhile, Inter Kashi, coached by Antonio Lopez Habas, remained compact and patient, waiting to capitalise on mistakes.
The return of Mohammed Ali Bemammer bolstered Chennaiyin’s midfield, as he combined effectively with captain Alberto Noguera to regain possession repeatedly. However, their attempts to find the forwards with long balls failed to trouble the opposition. Chennaiyin attackers Farukh Choudhary and Ingio Martinez remained largely uninvolved, managing only speculative efforts from distance.
Inter Kashi signalled their intent just before half-time when a defensive lapse nearly handed them the lead. Chennaiyin goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz made an initial save, but the rebound sparked chaos before being cleared off the line, serving as an early warning for the hosts.
That warning went unheeded. Within a minute of the restart, Inter Kashi struck. A failed clearance by Bemammer allowed Alfred Planas to seize the opportunity, producing a superb side-footed volley from the edge of the box to break the deadlock.
Kashi doubled their advantage soon after following another defensive error. Vignesh Dakshinamurthy mishit a routine clearance, gifting possession to the visitors. The move ended with Planas calmly slotting home his second goal, putting Chennaiyin firmly on the back foot.
Desperate to respond, Chennaiyin head coach Clifford Miranda introduced fresh legs, including Daniel Chima Chukwu, whose presence injected urgency into the attack. The hosts began to push higher up the pitch, forcing Inter Kashi goalkeeper Shubham Das into action as they searched for a way back.
Despite sustained pressure and a flurry of crosses into the box, Inter Kashi’s defence held firm. Chennaiyin finally found a breakthrough deep into stoppage time when Chukwu converted from close range following a scramble in the box. However, the late goal proved only a consolation.
Inter Kashi held on to secure all three points, climbing to eighth in the standings, while Chennaiyin’s struggles continued as they slipped to 11th, with defensive frailties once again undermining their performance.
