Chennai thrash Mumbai

Bruno Pellisari was made to slog along the wings in the DY Patil Stadium for a few extra minute. The Chennaiyin FC midfielder’s coach Marco Materazzi had already given the call to substitute the Brazilian. The delay came because of the technical glitch with the digital board the fourth official held – the number 20 on Pelissari’s jersey would just not show up. In the meantime, the 21-year-old made his way up the field just in time to powerfully hit a shot, on the half-volley, past Mumbai City FC custodian Subrata Paul. The youngster had finally broken the deadlock, and at the same time, ended the hosts’ string of five clean sheets on the trot. Incidentally, it was the Chennai outfit that had last scored against Mumbai in a 5-1 win in the Tamil Nadu capital.

Pelissari’s strike was his last contribution to the game altogether, as the officials on the touchline finally managed to get the corresponding numbers up.

Mumbai’s woes, nonetheless, had not ended there. All of a sudden the ISL’s tightest defence was being stretched and were struggling to keep up with the constant waves of Chennai attacks. A second goal came just 10 minutes after the opener. Paul made a mess of a Cristian Gonzalez freekick and his feeble punch fell kindly to Chennai defender Dhanachandra Singh. The centre-back took advantage of the space allowed to him in the box, bringing the ball under control before slotting in the lower corner – all done unopposed.