Press Trust of India
Pune, Dec 12: A clinical performance from Chennaiyin FC saw them thrash defending champions Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) 3-0 in the first leg semifinal of ISL-II here Saturday. For the winners, Bruno Pelissari (39th minute), Jeje Lalpeklhua (57th minute) and goal-machine Steven Mendoza (68th minute) were on target as ATK’s defenders had a forgettable day in office.
Chennaiyin FC with the win became the first team in the competition, to have won five matches in succession. This one was even more special as their talismanic Brazilian, Elano Blummer was not playing the game.
ATK, the defending champions, now must hope to win by a margin of at least three goals in the second leg to take the match into the tie-breaker.
On the day, playing their ‘home match’ away from Chennai (rescheduling due to recent floods), Marco Materazzi’s boys were flawless on the pitch controlling the proceedings from the start.
It also helped that ATK’s India internationals – right-back Rino Anto and centre-back Arnab Mondal made things easier for the opposition showing distinct lack of communication. Every time, they left their guards, Mendoza along with Jeje threatened to break through.
Chennaiyin took the lead when Pellisari struck from around 30 yards with a direct free-kick. It was a booming right footer, that evaded a mtwo-man wall and swerved enough to beat an outstretched ATK goalie Amrinder Singh.
