On Saturday, Chennaiyin FC lost 2‑0 to Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the opening game of the AIFF Super Cup 2025‑26. The match took place at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa, under heavy rain that made the pitch slick and the game hard to control.
Clifford Miranda, newly appointed head coach, started a full Indian lineup in his first competitive match. He put Pritam Kotal in midfield to lead the team while captain Mohammad Nawaz guarded the goal. The engines of the midfield were Jitendra Singh, Jiteshwor Singh, and Lalrinliana Hnamte, while Irfan Yadwad and Farukh Choudhary pushed forward in attack.
The rain turned the game into a tight midfield battle. Chennaiyin’s first clear chance belonged to Farukh, who drew a save from Mohun Bagan’s keeper, Vishal Kaith, after a fast dribble. Mohun Bagan tried to counter with a swift run from Sahal Abdul Samad, but a sliding tackle by Laldinliana Renthlei saved them from a clear goal.
Jiteshwor, rolling in from a corner, almost broke the deadlock in the 36th minute with a shot that slammed into Kaith’s hand, keeping the score level. Then, much to Chennaiyin’s disappointment, Jamie Maclaren found the back of the net just a minute later, giving Mohun Bagan a 1‑0 advantage. Hnamte scrambled a curling effort from distance, but the ball touched the post and separated from him.
Heading into the second half, Chennaiyin turned up the intensity. Irfan Yadwad’s header slipped just wide of the post, and a swift counter‑attack by Mohun Bagan allowed Maclaren to double the lead after a short wall ball into the corner of the net. Nawaz, however, sprang to life in the final minutes with two crucial saves: he first stopped Jason Cummings from a low shot, then threw himself at the foot of Liston Colaco’s effort, denying him a chance to close the gap.
Despite the loss, Chennaiyin’s players fought fiercely. Their body‑on‑body tackles and stubborn stands in front of goal kept the game competitive and showed they are still in good form for the rest of the tournament.
Next up, Chennaiyin will host East Bengal on Tuesday, October 28, and finish the group stage against Dempo SC. Both matches will be played at the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim. The team will use the experience from Fatorda to strengthen their position and get revenge on Mohun Bagan.
The game resembled the high‑energy Brazil style seen in earlier AIFF matches, and the fans can be hopeful that the Marinas will keep improving as the Super Cup progresses.
Source: ianslive
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