Chennaiyin FC will aim for back-to-back wins for the first time in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) season when they take on bottom-placed Mohammedan SC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday.
Mohammedan go into the match on the back of a draw against Odisha FC, while Chennaiyin enter the match on the back of a win over Sporting Delhi, with Farukh Choudhary’s solitary strike giving Clifford Miranda’s side their first home win of the season.
«The win against Delhi has given the team confidence, but Mohammedan is a tough team to beat no matter where they are in the rankings. For us, it’s about taking it one game at a time. Going forward, we have our plans in place, but for now we are focused on getting three points in the next game,» said assistant coach Anthony Fernandes, who attended the press conference as Miranda was unavailable due to illness.
As the competition approaches its final stages, both teams have struggled. Chennaiyin scored six goals and conceded 10 in eight games, while Mohammedan scored just four and conceded 21 in as many games. Chennaiyin have also not scored more than once in a match this season.
“I agree that our scoring record needs to improve, but for me creating chances is just as important, and we are working hard on these aspects,” Anthony said.
«The time pressure is something to take into account. If we play again within two days of a match, we focus more on recovery than on working on set pieces or improving our attacking play. That is no excuse, and I agree that we need to do better. I take full responsibility for not creating and converting more chances,» he added.
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Mohammedan will rely on striker Lalthankima Rotluanga, who has played every match and scored against Mohun Bagan this season, to score against Chennaiyin.
The match is crucial for both teams in the attempt to avoid relegation. The timing could suit Chennaiyin, who have a chance to pick up three important points before traveling to Jamshedpur FC, Punjab FC and NorthEast United before returning home for their final match of the season against Bengaluru FC.
The prospect of going to the Southern Derby for the final ISL match while sitting at the bottom of the table and facing relegation is something that Chennaiyin, both as a club and as a fanbase, would want to avoid.
Mohammedan’s task is not getting any easier either. With Delhi and Kerala following suit, the Black Panthers will look to build on their first point of the season with a stronger performance against Chennaiyin.
As the assistant coach noted, Chennaiyin cannot afford to be complacent, especially as Mohammedan defeated Chennaiyin at home last season to record its first ISL win after promotion and managed to hold on to a draw earlier in January.
While the absence of Elsinho Dias, who has been ruled out for the season, continues to concern Chennaiyin, there is good news at the back with right-back Laldinliana Renthlei back in training and expected to return to the squad after missing the match against Delhi last week.
“Now I feel better and fully fit, and I am looking forward to the next match,” said Laldinliana.
Published on April 20, 2026
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