ISL 2016: Chennaiyin FC back in reckoning after 2-0 win over FC Pune City

Chennaiyin FC's Jeje Lalpekhlua celebrates a goal during the ISL match against FC Pune City in Chennai yesterday. Pic/ISL

Chennai: Defending champions Chennaiyin FC snapped their five-match winless streak as Jeje Lalpekhlua and Davide Succi scored once in each half to beat FC Pune City 2-0 in their Indian Super League football match yesterday.

A headed goal by Jeje in the 44th minute and another strike from Succi in the 51st minute were enough for Chennaiyin to collect three points from their first win after beating NorthEast United in Guwahati on October 20.

Since that away win in Guwahati, Chennaiyin have drawn three matches while losing two. From seventh at the league table, Chennaiyin are now in fifth spot with 13 points from 10 matches and they are back in the reckoning for a place in the semi-finals. They are only outside the top four due to an inferior goal difference.

Troubles mount for Pune
Pune will be concerned about their chances of qualification for the semi-finals. The team coached by former ISL champion Antonio Habas is now placed sixth, although they are only a point behind the defending champions.
Needing to win to keep their chances alive, Chennaiyin coach Marco Materazzi made five changes to his starting line-up as he introduced players like Eder Monteiro, Hans Mulder, Davide Succi and Manuele Blasi to the starting line-up while Karanjit Singh was preferred as goalkeeper.

Habas did not change much, making just one, opting for Raju Yumnam in place of Rahul Bheke.

Pune stick to same eleven
Pune started well before they fell by the wayside. Anibal Zurdo was the first to try his luck with a free-kick that missed the target by a whisker and Lenny Rodrigues made a fine run on the right but his final attempt lacked power and direction.