ISL: Chennaiyin notches up first win in style

Chennai It was a transformed Chennaiyin FC that turned up at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday. Playing a brand of football it rarely displayed in its previous four matches, the host served up a pre-Deepavali treat to its fans with an impressive 5-3 win — its first of the season — over East Bengal FC in the Indian Super League. Braces from Brison Fernandes and Irfan Yadwad, along with a penalty converted by Ramon Tanque, completed a dominant performance by the host.

Chennaiyin launched attacks from both flanks and through the centre, creating several chances. Brison drew first blood after a fine pass from the right by Irfan. Unmarked, he fired a powerful right-footed shot past goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill.

He then made it 2-0 with a strong strike from outside the box. East Bengal struggled to break through Chennaiyin’s defence but reduced the margin through Ake Loba, who scored from close range after Daniel Ramirez dispossessed Ayush Dev and set him up. Brison was in the thick of things again when Jeakson Singh brought him down inside the box.