Striker Connor Shields scored the winner as Chennaiyin FC defeated Hyderabad FC 1-0 to register their first victory in the Indian Super League 2023-24 at the GMC Balayogi Stadium here on Monday.
Shields scored the only goal of the match in the seventh minute, helping Owen Coyle extend his unbeaten run against Hyderabad in the league.
Chennaiyin FC started the contest with an attacking approach and produced a string of neat passes before Ankit Mukherjee found Shields in the front of the goal with a grounded pass from the right flank and Shields tucked it in to put his team ahead in the match.
The away side continued to press for a second goal, while Hyderabad's first goal-scoring opportunity came in the 14th minute when Joao Victor took a shot from the centre of the box that went over the goalpost.
Chennaiyin goalkeeper Debjit Majumder did well to get low and make a fine save just before halftime to deny Victor.
The restart saw the home team launching a series of attacks, but Chennaiyin's defence stood firm.
In the 83rd minute, Chennaiyin could have doubled their lead once more as Shields found Rahim Ali with a fine pass, but Rahim’s volley was off target.
Jordan Murray almost put Chennaiyin two to the good in the 86th minute with a composed run to round the opposition goalkeeper and cut it back for Rahim. But the ball was cleared onto the post by a Hyderabad defender and away from goal.
Three minutes later Murray was at it again when his low shot in the box was saved by the Hyderabad stopper Gurmeet Singh.
Chennaiyin will now face Punjab FC in their fifth match of the season at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on October 29.
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