ISL 2024-25: Chima’s late goal leads Chennaiyin FC to 2-1 win over Punjab FC
Punjab FC went down 1-2 to Chennaiyin FC after conceding a late goal in an Indian Super League encounter which was played here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
- CHENNAI — Punjab
FC went down 1-2 to Chennaiyin FC after conceding a late goal in an Indian
Super League encounter which was played here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
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- Luka Majcen equalised at the start of the second half after
Punjab FC conceded through a penalty in the first half which was scored by
their former striker Wilmar Jordan Gil. Daniel Chima Chukwu broke Punjab hearts
in the 84th minute scoring the winner. Punjab remain in ninth position in the
table with 24 points from 20 matches while Chennaiyin are one place below with
the same points from 21 matches.
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- Punjab FC created the first chance of the game with Filip
Mrzljak forcing a save out of Mohammad Nawaz after he was set up by Petros
Giakoumakis. The Shers conceded the first goal after controlling the game for
the first phase. Melroy conceded a penalty as the ball struck the defender’s
hand inside the box while trying to shield Wilmar Jordan. The Colombian striker
made no mistake converting the resulting penalty.
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- Mrzljak had a couple of chances to find the equaliser but
the midfielder could not find the target before he was replaced after getting
injured. The last minutes of the half was end to end, with chances created at
both ends. Substitute Muhammad Suhail put in a couple of dangerous crosses from
the left wing which could not find the intended target while at the other end
Ravi Kumar made two wonderful one on one saves, both from Irfan Yadwad to keep
the home side’s lead to a single goal.
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- The Shers took the lead three minutes into the second half
with Luka finishing off a wonderful team move. Asmir Suljic found Pulga Vidal
at the end of the box and the Argentinian found Luka with a pin point pass
inside the box which the Slovenian buried it past the goalkeeper. Luka could not
capitalize on three more chances to score within five minutes, all three being
setup by the energetic Suhail as the forward could not put the finishing
touches after finding himself in promising positions inside the box.
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- Punjab kept on creating pressure on the home side but the
final output was missing with the team unable to convert the chances. The Shers
were punished for those misses as Chennaiyin took the lead six minutes from
time. Substitutes Lukas Brambilla and Daniel Chima Chukwu combined as the
former found Chukwu completely free inside the six yard box which the striker
poked inside the net.
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