ISL: Chennaiyin finish season with a superb 4-3 win against bottom boy NorthEast

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Rahim Ali (3rd), Kwame Karikari (56th), Anirudh Thapa (62nd) and Sajal Bag (94th) were on target for the hosts while Wilmar Jordan (51st and 80th), Parthib Gogoi (74th) scored for the Highlanders.

Chennaiyin, who came into the game on the back of two consecutive victories started the game on the front foot and took the lead after just 3 minutes when Julius Duker’s incisive pass over the top was slotted home calmly by Rahim Ali. The hosts then controlled the entire first half and went into the break leading the score-line.

Six minutes after half time, the visitors equalized against the run of play through a goal from Wilmar Jordan. The Marina Machans, however, kept pushing to restore their lead with their attacking surges and were rewarded in the 56th minute when the in-form Karikari scored off the rebound from Edwin Vanspaul’s long-range effort. Captain Thapa then extended his side’s lead after a stunning strike on his left foot following a cross-field ball from Ninthoinganba Meetei.

NorthEast United found themselves back in the game after Parthib Gogoi scored a thumping goal from distance in the 74th minute and Wilmar Jordan struck his second of the game after netting a simple tap in from close range in the 80th minute.

We end our #HeroISL season with a win at the Marina Arena! ????

Thanks for all the support, Machans ????#AllInForChennaiyin #CFCNEUFC pic.twitter.com/n5xycuC8c8

— Chennaiyin FC ???????? (@ChennaiyinFC) February 24, 2023

Right when it seemed like the game will finish in a draw, Abdenasser El Khayati played a smart pass following a defensive error from the opponents to 19-year-old Sajal Bag who smashed the ball in the back of the net to secure a monumental victory for Chennaiyin.

Despite the victory, Chennaiyin were unable to qualify for the play-offs as they finished at the 8th position in the table with 27 points.

(with inputs from agency)