For the most part of the second season of the Hero Indian Super League, Chennaiyin FC struggled to get going. They began their campaign with back-to-back losses and then there also came a period where they tasted three successive defeats, jeopardising their semis hopes a great deal. However, Marco Marterazzi’s men showed great resilience and character in the business end of the league stage and won four consecutive matches to reach the semis where they will be playing defending champions Atlético de Kolkata. Here is the Super Machans’ road to the semi-finals.Vs Atlético de Kolkata on October 3: In what was the season opener at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, the home side suffered a 3-2 defeat after Helder Postiga struck a brace for ATK. Valdo also chipped in with a goal for the defending champions. For the Super Machans, Jeje and Elano scored but their efforts weren’t enough.Vs Delhi Dynamos FC on October 8: Chennaiyin FC travelled to New Delhi to play the Lions and suffered a 1-0 defeat after a brilliant defensive performance from Roberto Carlos’ men. Chicao converted a penalty in the eighth minute, and after that the hosts didn’t allow the Super Machans any breathing space.Vs FC Goa on October 11: Chennaiyin FC went to Fatorda searching for their first points of the season and played their A Game to stun Zico’s men. Elano and Stiven Mendoza combined to script a 4-0 win. Colombian Mendoza scored the first hat-trick of the season, while marquee player Elano scored his second goal of the season.Vs Mumbai City FC on October 16: Stiven Mendoza continued his great form and struck twice in Chennaiyin FC’s 2-0 win at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Elano also played his part in the win by providing an assist for the Colombian striker in what was Chennai’s first goal of the match. It appeared the Super Machans were well and truly back.Vs NorthEast United FC on October 20: However, Chennai’s bubble burst at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati. The match was heading for a draw when Simao Sabrosa and Nicolas Velez scored late into the game to take the Highlanders to their first win of the season. For the second time in the season, Chennai conceded through a penalty when Simao stepped up and got the better of goalkeeper Apoula Edel.Vs FC Pune City on October 24: Chenniyin FC hosted in-form Pune and beat them 2-1 thanks to goals from Bernard Mendy and Stiven Mendoza. Kalu Uche scored in the second half for the Stallions but that was that. The Super Machans were back on track after the halt they experienced against NorthEast United FC.Vs Kerala Blasters FC on October 31: The match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi ended in a 1-1 draw. Elano converted a penalty in the first half to put the visitors ahead before Chris Dagnall scored early into the second half to bring parity. This was Chennai’s only draw of the season.Vs FC Goa on November 5: Goa avenged their defeat earlier in the season with a 2-0 win in Chennai. The home side looked completely off-colour in defence and conceded two penalties which were successfully converted by Leo Moura and Jonatan Lucca. The defeat will signal the beginning of a lean patch for Marco Materazzi’s men.Vs NorthEast United FC on November 11: For the second time in the season, Chennaiyin suffered a loss against the Highlanders. This time at home as the Cesar Farias’ men registered a 2-1 win. Elano opened the scoring in the match but Diomansy Kamara and Silas found the net later to help their team do the double over the Super Machans.Vs Atlético de Kolkata on November 18: Kolkata also did the double over Chennaiyin FC. Again Chennaiyin opened the scoring through Raphael Augusto in the first half but second-half strikes from Sameegh Doutie and Iain Hume handed the visitors their third successive loss. At this stage of the league, very few put their money on Chennai as regards their semi-final chances.Vs Kerala Blasters FC on November 21: With their semi-final chances dwindling by the day, Chennai needed a big win against Kerala to boost themselves. The team responded in a spectacular fashion putting four goals past the Blasters. Dhanachandra Singh opened the scoring early into the match and then Mendoza went on to score his second hat-trick of the season. Antonio German pulled one back late into the match for the visitors to reduce the deficit but that was that, as Chennai registered a thumping 4-1 win.Vs Delhi Dynamos FC on November 24: This was probably the win that instilled belief in the Chennaiyin camp. Roberto Carlos’ men were in good form going into the match, however, they were taken aback as Stiven Mendoza (once), Bruno Pelissari (once) and Jeje (twice) hit the back of the net to lead their team to a 4-0 home win.Vs Mumbai City FC on December 1: Chennai’s winning streak at home continued as they beat Nicolas Anelka’s men 3-0 to bring themselves well and truly back in the semis reckoning. The match was played throughout in the rain as Stiven Mendoza, Jeje and Bernard Mendy hit the back of the net for the hosts.Vs FC Pune City on December 5: Chennaiyin only needed a draw in Pune to advance to the semis but they left nothing to chance and registered a 1-0 win against the Stallions to become the fourth team to reach the semi-finals. For the third match running, Jeje hit the back of the net and his goal in the second half was enough to seal a fourth consecutive win for the Super Machans, only the second team after FC Goa to have done so in the history of the league.
