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| John Stiven Mendoza of Chennaiyin FC celebrates a goal with Eric Djemba Djemba during ISL match against FC Pune City |
Chennaiyin FC registered a 3-1 victory over FC Pune City at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai as they moved level on points with Atletico de Kolkata and more importantly, topped the Indian Super League (ISL) standings due to more goals scored (17).
John Mendoza put his side into the lead in the 62nd minute before Eric Djemba-Djemba scored an own goal and allowed the opposition to come back into the game. However, Bruno Pelissari and Jeje Lalpekhlua scored a couple of goals to hand their side full three points as they returned to winning ways after four draws.
The home side made four changes which included Marco Materazzi and Mikael Silvestre missing out due to injury. They along with Dane Pereira and Balwant Singh were replaced by the returning Bernard Mendy, skipper Bojan Djordjic, Denson Devadas and Jeje Lalpekhlua.
Franco Colomba made two changes to his Pune side who too drew their last game away to NorthEast United. Striker Dudu Omagbemi and Mehrajuddin Wadoo were replaced by David Trezeguet and Anupam Sarkar respectively.
The game's first chance was blazed just over the post by John Mendoza from close-range after being put through by Elano's defense-splitting reverse through ball in the third minute.
Four minutes later, following a free-kick won by Jermaine Pennant, Davide Colomba had a shot from far out which went just wide of Bracigliano's right-hand post.
Seconds later Chennaiyin almost used route-one football to terrifying effect. Dhanachandra Singh came all the way from left-back to the near side and blasted in a Rory Delap-esque throw-in which found Jeje in the opposition six-yard box with a header which went just over Arindam's post.
Chennaiyin were on the offensive again in the 11th minute through an Elano corner which Mendy headed down for Jeje to flick. It brought out a great reflex save from Arindam with Bojan's follow-up shot from outside the box going just wide.
Elano Blumer went down in the opposition box in the 14th minute as he limped off to be replaced by Bruno Pelissari as his right calf seemed to be a problem.
Pune though had their own injury concerns in defense with Daniele Magliocchetti replaced by Andres Gonzalez soon after..
Chennaiyin's bad luck with injuries continued with Gouramangi going off due to a groin injury just past the half-hour mark. The experienced Indian international was replaced by striker Balwant Singh as Djemba-Djemba slotted in alongside Mendy in defense.
The game came back to life in the 35th minute with Pelissari testing Arindam's with an astute left-footed shot after being setup by Mendoza.
A couple of minutes later, the crowd was treated to a rabona from Mendoza after the attacker beat three Pune players with consummate ease. The attempted cross though was blocked.
With half time approaching Chennaiyin broke on the counter with Mendoza being put through by a long Khabra ball. His low cross was defended excellently by Cirillo with the rebound shot from Pelissari rising away from Arindam's right-hand post.
The second half began with Chennai picking up where they left off with Mendoza in sparkling form. The striker showcased some exquisite footwork to get away from Cirillo, Pritam and Kostas and speed forward to unleash a right-footed shot which went straight to Arindam.
Colomba decided to spice things up in attack with the ineffective Trezeguet replaced by the clinical Dudu Omagbemi. The visitors were trying to hem their way into the game slowly but the hosts still looked mostly like to score.
And score they did in quite remarkable fashion with none other than Mendoza the goal-scorer on the hour-mark. The striker started the move with a pass to Djemba-Djemba who found Balwant Singh ahead of him. The Indian's first time flick found Mendoza in the clear who had continued his run. A perfect chip over the advancing Arindam was enough to find the back of the net and give the home side a 1-0 lead.
Pune produced a save out of Bracigliano a minute later through Kostas from a free-kick on the far side. Following that in the 69th minute, Pelissari combined well with Balwant and fired a shot which saw Arindam save well by stretching to his right.
Pune drew level and lulled the crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium when Djemba-Djemba gave the ball away cheaply to Dudu. Pune resumed possession as Pennant found Colomba on the left flank. His low cross looped into the corner of Bracigliano's goal off Djemba-Djemba for an own-goal in the 70th minute.
The second-half roller-coaster then saw another twist immediately from the resulting kick-off as Bruno Pelissari charged forward without being stopped and unleashed a fierce left-footed strike which went in off a deflection from Cirillo.
With 15 minutes to go, the home crowd's mood turned sour despite their side leading 2-1. John Mendoza, pulled his left-hamstring and went down in agony. The Colombian was stretchered away to a huge roar from the crowd as the Haitian striker Jean-Eudes Maurica came on in his stead.
Jeje had a chance to put his side 3-1 up with a header that was inches away from creeping in at Arindam's left-hand post. This was after Djordjic set him up with an inch perfect cross from the left.
Pelissari again troubled the Pune backline with his charging run on the counter and drew a tackle from Ravanan that earned the full-back a booking. The resulting free-kick though went over the bar.
In the three minutes of added time, Chennaiyin had a glorious opportunity to wrap up all three points as Bojan found Pelissari on the counter-attack one on one with Arindam. The Brazilian, caught in two minds squared the ball meekly to Maurice who was in support but Andres got back just in time to steer it out for a corner.
The third goal did come, much to the crowd's relief and cheer. Chennaiyin's two Indian attackers combined well with Balwant threading through a pass for Jeje who beat the offside trap. Jeje’s first time shot rolled into the back of the net with Arindam wrong-footed.
The referee soon blew for full time, sending fans into delirium and Chennaiyin to the top of the table; having scored more goals than second-placed Kolkata who have the same goal difference.
