Mendy scorcher gives Chennaiyin FC victory

CHENNAI: Chennaiyin FC (CFC) felt truly at home as they fought off the great Indian southern derby against Kerala Blasters FC (KBFC) to win 2-1 in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday.
Chennai went ahead through Elano's penalty but the visitors drew level just after the half-time through Iain Hume. However, Bernard Mendy scored arguably the best goal of the tournament so far - a bicycle kick to restore the lead and win it for the hosts.
Chennai fought off last minute scares to move up to second spot on the table with six points, one less than leaders Atletico de Kolkata. Kerala remain on bottom with zero points from two matches.
In a rough clash that witnessed a memorable tussle between Elano and Mehtab Hossain, CFC made two changes to the squad that won 2-1 in Goa. Harmanjot Khabra led the midfield in place of Dhanachandra Singh and Colombian John Stiven Mendoza started in place of Bruno Pelissari.
Kerala too made two changes with Indian defender Sandesh Jhingan and Spaniard midfielder Victor Forcada featuring in the Starting XI. No sooner did the referee blew the whistle than defender Bernarnd Mendy's lob found Abhishek Das. The 23-year-old Indian crossed from the right, beating his marker to Balwant. The flying Punjab man's header from the centre of the box went just wide.
A few minutes later, Gurwinder, already on a yellow for his challenge on CFC captain Bojan Djordjic, brought down Das inside the box on the right and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Elano beat Kerala goalie David James with a penalty accurately placed at the left bottom corner of the net and put the hosts ahead in the 14th minute.
In the second half, KBFC piled on the attack. In the 50th minute, a scramble for the ball inside the CFC penalty area helped Iain Hume equalize. Nirmal Chettri, who turned 24 on Tuesday, met Forcada's corner, and left the CFC defenders gasping for breath. As the hosts struggled to clear the ball, Canadian Hume pumped it in with his right foot to draw level.
At the other end, Mehtab fouled Elano 25 yards on the left. In the resulting free kick, Elano smoothly guided the ball to the centre. Gouramangi Singh won the initial header but Khabra neatly pushed the ball towards Mendy in an anticipatory trajectory. The former PSG defender, waiting near the left post, hit a scintillating bicycle kick to put the hosts ahead again in the 63rd minute.
As the clock started ticking away, Kerala tried their best to level.