Chennaiyin FC head coach Owen Coyle admitted soft goals led to his team’s 4-2 loss against Bengaluru FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai in the ongoing Indian Super League on Saturday. Coyle feels his team was up to the mark in the first half but veered off the track in the second half.
Ryan Williams was able to give a 1-0 lead to the Blues as he scored in the 16th minute. However, Irfan Yadwad soon equalized for the Marina Machans after three minutes.
The visitors’ captain Sunil Chhetri continued his rich form, scoring his ninth goal of the seaso in the 43rd minute but the home team once again equalized quickly as Hmante scored in the stoppage time.
After the first half, Williams scored his second of the evening in the 68th minute whereas Renthlei conceded an own goal. Coyle reckons they could have been far better in their defense in the second half.
“I thought it was a great opportunity for a lot of these lads to stand up and show they could deal with very good players, and (Sunil) Chhetri, (Jorge) Pereyra Diaz, and (Ryan) Williams, who I thought was outstanding in the game,” Coyle said at the post-match press conference.
“We allowed four crosses into our box and they resulted in four goals, one culminating in probably an own goal that’s so avoidable. And yet for that, in the first half, we played really well, created really good chances, had to come back twice, we probably should have been in front. So there was a lot to be pleased about with that, albeit that I thought two goals were avoidable,” he added.
“I wanted to play against the best players so that I could show that I’m on that level and sadly tonight, defensively, we never got to that level that’s why we conceded such soft goals,” Coyle further added.
Chennaiyin FC will next take on Odisha FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai on 9th January.
