Chennai, March 22 – Back on home soil, Chennaiyin FC delivered a confident and enterprising performance to draw 1-1 with FC Goa in the Indian Super League 2026, earning a deserved point in their first home match of the campaign on Sunday.
Head coach Clifford Miranda made a couple of changes to the starting XI, bringing in Eduardo Kau to replace the injured Mohammed Ali, while Maheson Singh and Daniel Chima Chukwu also started. The Marina Machans had to be alert early on, with goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz making a sharp save in the eighth minute, before Laldinliana Renthlei followed up with solid defending to contain the threat.
CFC soon found their rhythm and began to threaten. A flowing move in the 11th minute saw Imran Khan find Chima, whose deft flick set up Maheson, but his first-time shot hit the post. Farukh Choudhary then tested the goalkeeper with a long-range strike, as Chennaiyin grew into the game.
An early setback followed when Chima was forced off through injury, with Irfan Yadwad coming on and making an immediate impact. The forward linked up well, won a corner, and later forced a save with a powerful shot, while Maheson continued to deliver dangerous balls into the area. At the other end, Nawaz remained composed, making a couple of routine saves to ensure the sides went into the break on level terms.
Chennaiyin carried that momentum into the second half and were soon rewarded. In the 48th minute, Irfan capitalised on a defensive error, kept his composure, and slotted home to give the Marina Machans the lead, before continuing to trouble the Goa defence and winning a corner as CFC looked to build on their advantage.
Chennaiyin continued to press for a second, with Farukh Choudhary pouncing on a loose ball in the 82nd minute, but his shot was blocked at close range. At the other end, Kau produced a crucial intervention to preserve the lead, while Nawaz remained commanding in his area, claiming crosses with authority as the hosts braced for a late push from Goa.
However, the visitors found a way back in the 88th minute. Nawaz initially did well to deny Dejan Drazic with a strong save, but Sandesh Jhingan rose highest to head home from the resulting corner and level the score at 1-1. Chennaiyin pushed again in stoppage time, with Alberto Noguera going down under a heavy challenge inside the box, only for the referee to award a corner, before Nawaz produced a sharp save with his foot moments later to keep things even.
Chennaiyin FC will next face ISL debutants Inter Kashi on April 7.
