Chennai City, Maziya play out thrilling draw

Returning to the arena after three long years, CCFC had Adolfo ‘Fito’ Miranda (11’, 90’) to thank as the Spaniard rippled the net once in each half. Skipper Mohamed Irufaan (64’) and Ibrahim Mahudee Hussain (67’) both struck within a short span of four minutes for Maziya, which fielded only two foreign players in the playing eleven.

The Group E encounter got off to an action-packed start, with Chennai City shotstopper Nauzet Santana Garcia tipping a long-ranger over the bar just a few minutes after kick-off. Ten minutes later, Fito etched his name in the history books by becoming the first-ever scorer for CCFC in the continental competition.

Left-back Ajith Kumar, who made some adventurous runs in the early stages, picked out the forward close to the 18-yard-box. The 30-year-old overseas recruit took a couple of good touches before beating Maziya goalkeeper Hussain Shareef at his near post.

In a bid to draw parity, Maziya striker Cornelius Ezekiel tried his luck from distance thrice in a space of 15 minutes but his shots never bore fruit. In the 33rd minute, the away side was a whisker away from getting an equaliser as Chennai City centre-back Roberto Eslava came up with a calamitous back pass when Nauzet was off his station.

But, to the relief of the home team, the post came to its rescue. Close to the 40-minute mark, Maziya central defender Mohammad Sharif, a Russian-born Afghan international, fired a free-kick over the bar from just outside the D-box.

Heading into the breather, CCFC led by a solitary goal, thanks to difference-maker Fito.

Following a half-time talk by gaffer Marjan Sekulovski, the visitor began the second period on a positive note. Two minutes in, an advancing Sharif put in a delightful ball across the face of the goal from the right only for Hamza Mohamed to sky it into the empty stands behind goal. However, midfielder Hamza got his act right in the 64th minute by floating a looping cross into the danger zone.

Irufaan, who was left unmarked, headed in a captain’s goal to level the scores. As the game approached the final quarter, Mahudee gave Maziya the advantage by completing a move that also involved Hamza and Hussain Nihan.

In what was a frantic finish to the contest, Fito, who had the opportunity to make it 2-2 in the 84th minute, rescued a point for Chennai City in the 90th, knocking home a rebound from the Maziya custodian.