Chennaiyin FC have had a rich history in the Indian Super League (ISL) having won the ISL Cup twice and finished top of the pile in the inaugural season of the league. 

The Marina Machans have the fourth most wins in the history of the league and have only scored fewer goals than Mumbai City FC and FC Goa in the league’s history. 

Chennaiyin FC’s pedigree in the ISL was on show on Saturday evening as they came from behind to stun Odisha FC at the Kalinga stadium and end their 13-match unbeaten streak at home. 

The victory fueled by Farukh Choudhary’s brace and Daniel Chima Chukwu’s first-ever ISL goal for the club would rank among their most famous successes on the road for Chennaiyin FC as it became Sergio Lobera’s first home loss in the ISL as Odisha FC head coach. 

As the dust settles on the fantastic result for Chennaiyin FC, here’s a look at some of their memorable results away from home in the league’s history. 

FC Goa 0-4 Chennaiyin FC (ISL 2015)

Marco Materazzi’s Chennaiyin FC travelled to Goa troubled by two defeats in their opening two encounters of the season. The task was a big one for the previous season’s table-toppers as they came up against Zico’s free-slowing FC Goa side on their own patch. 

However, a bruised Chennaiyin FC side turned the script around led by John Stiven Mendoza’s sublime hattrick. The Marina Machans turned on the style and ran out 4-0 winners to record their joint biggest away win in the ISL till date (in terms of margin). 

As the Gaurs were stunned, Materazzi’s men kicked on from there to reach the semi-finals for a second year running. 

FC Goa 2-3 Chennaiyin FC (ISL 2015 Final)

On paper this doesn’t count as an away game, but in reality the elements meant it was a proper away day for the Marina Machans who travelled to the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Fatorda to take on FC Goa in their own stadium packed with their fans. 

The Marina Machans silenced the crowd when Bruno Pelissari put his team in front in the 54th minute but the joy was short-lived as Semboi Haokip levelled matters for the Gaurs just four minutes later. With the final venturing towards extra-time, Joffre appeared to have won the final for FC Goa with a superb free-kick in the 87th minute, but Chennaiyin FC hit back in the dying minutes equalising through a Laxmikanth Kattimani own goal in the 90th minute before Mendoza, a hattrick hero on the ground in the league game earlier that season, stole the trophy for Chennaiyin FC in dramatic circumstances with a goal just a minute later. This was Chennaiyin FC’s first ISL Cup triumph. 

Bengaluru FC 2-3 Chennaiyin FC (ISL 2017-18 Final)

Another non-away game on paper but another game where Chennaiyin FC were visitors in reality. Two and a half years on from that dramatic win in Goa, Chennaiyin FC reached another ISL Cup final and had to travel to the Sree Kanteerava stadium in Bengaluru to take on home side Bengaluru FC in the final. 

The Blues were flying after a dominant league stage campaign that saw them finish top, eight points ahead of second-placed Chennaiyin FC. The Marina Machans though were hopeful even as underdogs having won at the Sree Kanteerava stadium in the league earlier that season. 

However, things didn’t start as per plan for John Gregory’s side as the Blues surged ahead much to the delight of the Bengaluru crowd thanks to a ninth-minute goal from captain Sunil Chhetri. But Chennaiyin FC picked up themselves quickly to snap the BFC momentum and equalise just eight minutes later through Mailson Alves. The Brazilian popped up again on the stroke of half-time to give his team the lead at the break at a stunned Kanteerava stadium which was further shocked when Rapahel Augusto made it 3-1 for Chennaiyin FC in the 67th minute. 

Bengaluru FC threw the kitchen sink at Chennaiyin FC but could only pull one goal back through Miku, deep in stoppage time. Chennaiyin FC rejoiced as they won the ISL Cup for the second time and this time at the home of their arch rivals. Sweet. 

Kerala Blasters FC 3-6 Chennaiyin FC (ISL 2019-20)

Speaking of Chennaiyin FC’s bitterest rivals, Kerala Blasters FC are right up there and Chennaiyin FC will remember their incredible victory at Kochi in 2019-20 en-route to the ISL Cup final. 

Under new head coach Coyle (his first stint at Chennaiyin FC), the Marina Machans were on a superb run of form as they landed in Kochi. After a quiet first half hour, the game exploded. Rafael Crivellaro opened the scoring for the visitors in the 39th minute before Nerijus Valskis doubled their lead in the 45th minute. A minute later Crivellaro scored again to give the away side a healthy 3-0 lead at the break. 

After the interval, Bartholomew Ogbeche pulled a goal back for the Blasters in the 48th minute but Lallianzuala Chhangte restored Chennaiyin FC’s three-goal cushion eleven minutes later. The game had more twists as Ogbeche netted twice in the 65th and 76th minute to complete his hattrick and bring Kerala Blasters FC right back in the mix at 3-4, but Chhangte put the game beyond the hosts with his second goal in the 80th minute. 

Valskis then put the cherry on the top adding Chennaiyin FC’s sixth in stoppage time to cap off a memorable away victory at the home of their rivals. 

NorthEast United FC 3-7 Chennaiyin FC (ISL 2022-23)

Thomas Brdaric took his Chennaiyin FC side to Guwahati in December 2022 and they ran riot to record their joint biggest away win in ISL in terms of the margin. 

Creative midfielder Abdenasser El Khayati opened the scoring in the 11th minute to give Chennaiyin FC the lead but Wilmar Jordan Gil equalised from the spot in the 36th minute. El Khayati then scored his second just four minutes later to put the visitors back in front before Petar Sliskovic fired a third for Brdaric’s side just before the interval. 

El Khayati then completed his hattrick in the 48th minute before Sliskovic and Julius Duker helped Chennaiyin FC race to a 6-1 lead by the 68th minute. 

Romain Phillipoteaux pulled a goal back for NorthEast United FC in the 73rd minute but an own goal from Joe Zoherliana six minutes later meant Chennaiyin FC had scored seven in the ISL for the first time ever. 

Rochharzela then completed the scoring adding a third for NorthEast United FC, but the evening belonged to El Khayati and Chennaiyin FC. 

Mohun Bagan SG 2-3 Chennaiyin FC (ISL 2023-24)

Chennaiyin FC were searching for a place in the knockout stages for the first time since 2019-20 but faced a must-win game away at League Shield-chasing Mohun Bagan Super Giant. 

The task was made difficult when Joni Kauko put the home side in front in the 29th minute but Coyle’s side stuck to their guns not allowing the star-studded Mariners to increase their lead. 

Jordan Murray then stunned the Salt Lake stadium with an equaliser in the 72nd minute that sparked a remarkable late revival for Chennaiyin FC. Ryan Edwards scored eight minutes later to put the Marina Machans in front with ten minutes to play but Antonio Habas’ side found the equaliser through Dimitri Petratos in the fourth minute of stoppage time. 

With the game drifting towards a draw, Irfan Yadwad finished off a fine Chennaiyin FC move to score the winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time. The win gave Coyle’s side the impetus as they won their next two games to qualify for the playoffs.