Mohammedan SC head coach Andrey Chernyshov was delighted to achieve their first-ever victory in the Indian Super League (ISL) as they edged past Chennaiyin FC with a 1-0 scoreline at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Thursday.

With that, the Black and White Brigade became the only fifth team to win their first-ever away game in the league after ATK FC, Chennaiyin FC, NorthEast United FC, and Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

The Kolkata giants scored the game's only goal in the 39th minute when young Indian forward Lalremsanga Fanai capitalised on a defensive error to net his first ISL goal. The visitors were awarded a penalty in the second half's injury time, but César Lobi Manzoki’s attempt missed the target, preventing the newcomers from doubling their lead.

Despite the Marina Machans creating numerous offensive moves throughout the match in search of the equaliser, Mohammedan SC defenders showcased their resilience and persistence to maintain a clean sheet and secure their first three points in the ISL.

Chernyshov expressed his delight at securing their first win in the league. Shedding light on the significance of this win, he said in the post-match press conference: “This is our first win in ISL. We made history today with these players, coaches, and staff.”

“We conceded two goals in extra time in the last two matches. But we played against very good teams who pressed us in the last minutes. They also have quality. We did not play against small teams. This is football. NorthEast United FC and FC Goa also have qualities. But today we are really very happy because we got our first win in ISL,” he continued.

The Russian head coach believed that the victory against Chennaiyin FC would boost his players' confidence and help them achieve positive results in the upcoming matches.

“We know we are strong; we want to play good football in this league. We needed to win this match. And I am very happy about my players now. First, after two matches, they understood they could play good football. Now they understand they can win matches in ISL. And this is really very important for us,” Chernyshov explained.

Owen Coyle’s team dominated the game, creating 17 chances and attempting 22 shots while maintaining 53% possession. However, the Mohammedan SC defenders stood strong under pressure and managed to hold on to the clean sheet, fighting tooth and nail until the final whistle.

Speaking about their playing style in the second half, Chernyshov said, “Look, sometimes you may not need to play nice football to win the match. Today, we were not able to continue to play our nice style, but Chennaiyin FC started (the game) very well. Maybe about (being) fresh. They had more gap between the first and third (second) matches. We played against FC Goa. Maybe we were a little bit tired after yesterday's long travel.”

“And they started very well. But we understand we need our way. Before the match today, I told my players that today, quality was not enough to win the match. Today you need to give something more from within your hearts, and they gave. They are really good players,” he further added.

Mohammedan SC displayed spirited performances in their opening matches. In the second game against FC Goa, they narrowly missed out on their first victory after conceding a late goal. On Thursday, in addition to taking the lead in the first half, the Kolkata side managed to keep their first clean sheet and achieve their elusive victory in the ISL.

Throughout the second half, Chernyshov’s men showcased stability and cohesion in their defensive third, denying the hosts the opportunity to convert their chances. The players' grit and determination propelled Mohammedan SC to maintain their slender 1-0 lead and secure their first ISL win.

When asked about the message he conveyed to his players during the half-time break, Chernyshov remarked,

“I told them 'Guys it was a good 45 minutes. We didn’t start the way we wanted, but we expect this start from Chennaiyin FC. They are fresh; they are strong.' Then I told them to please concentrate more when they have set pieces, free kicks, and corners because they were very dangerous in the first corners and free kicks (in the first half).”

“In the second half, players started to play with more concentration in this situation. Also, I told them not to think about keeping the result (and) continue to play football because it's now 0-0. We go and start with 0-0, and we need to maybe score one goal more, and we had this chance from the penalty,” he stated.

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Mohammedan SCChennaiyin FC2024-2025