Indian Super League

As both teams came into this fixture on the back of a win, this Kolkata derby was expected to be a tighter contest than the one in the reverse fixture. Without much surprises, both teams put the pressure on each other in the first half, but the goal by Slavko Damjanovic in the second half changed the momentum in favor of the Mariners.

Chennaiyin, who came into the game on the back of two consecutive victories started the game on the front foot and took the lead after just 3 minutes when Julius Duker's incisive pass over the top was slotted home calmly by Rahim Ali. The hosts then controlled the entire first half and went into the break leading the score-line.

In the opening five minutes of the game, the hosts won three consecutive corners and broke the deadlock with the third one. The ball was curled into the box for the third time by Roshan Naorem and an unmarked Narayanan headed it in from close range to give the hosts an early lead. FC Goa were in a must-win situation but their hopes were dashed on Thursday.

Karikari opened the scoring for Chennaiyin in the 10th minute before he struck the winner off a penalty in the 73rd minute. Noah Wail Sadaoui netted Goa's only goal of the match in the 49th minute. This was Chennaiyin's second win in a row, while a defeat in a must-win game means FC Goa will now have to rely on others to qualify for the playoffs.

An electric atmosphere engulfed the venue with several away fans in attendance fueling a high-octane encounter between two strong sides. Opportunities came at both ends in the initial stages of the first half. Dimitrios Diamantakos failed to hit the target from a promising Sahal Samad cross at one end, while Sandesh Jhinghan rattled the crossbar from a Javi Hernandez free-kick at the other.

The Islanders broke records for most goals scored and most points accumulated in a single ISL season to extend their unbeaten run to 18 matches, also an all-time league record with the triumph in Goa and the Englishman expressed gratitude towards everyone at the club who made this feat possible.

FC Goa were determined not to make Mumbai's title charge easy, trying to beat them with their own attacking method. They found success with this approach as early as the 5th minute. A long free kick found its way to Noah Sadaoui, who danced past three defenders and composed himself to put the home team ahead.

With a win, the Islanders could also seal the title if Hyderabad FC lose against Odisha FC on Friday. FC Goa, on the other hand, will be looking to capitalise on ATK Mohun Bagan's drop in form by taking their place in the top four. But for that, the Gaurs will have to do something that no team has done this season -- beat the Islanders.

The Mariners attempted a total of 26 shots but could not find a way through the Red Miners' defence. The first half saw plenty of opportunities coming ATK Mohun Bagan's way, but TP Rehenesh was on his toes to keep the deadlock intact at the break. Kiyan Nassiri was lively on the pitch and his pull-back created the first chance of the match, which Carl McHugh could not keep on target.

Cleiton Silva launched himself to the top of the goal-scoring charts after bagging a brace, while Jake Jervis opened his ISL account with a spectacular equaliser in first-half stoppage time. Goals from Parthib Gogoi, Jithin MS and substitute Imran Khan handed the Highlanders their first away point.