Chennaiyin faces TRAU in key match

CHENNAI: Chennaiyin FC would hope to be third time lucky when it faces TRAU FC in the Durand Cup Group C match at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal on Wednesday.

After playing out an exciting 2-2 draw against Indian Army Red, Chennaiyin went down 1-3 to fellow Indian Super League club Hyderabad FC. With group topper HFC sealing quarter-final qualification, CFC, which has earned only a solitary point from two matches, is fighting with the remaining three teams in the pool for the second spot.

“We are still in the preparation stage. We must be positive every time. Of course, we need positive results for our confidence. Sometimes, it is difficult to understand when we play well but lose a match. So, our mindset is very important,” Chennaiyin head coach Thomas Brdaric said ahead of the TRAU fixture.

‘Home team’ TRAU heads into the clash on the back of a 2-1 win over Army Red and has secured three points from as many matches so far. Talking about I-League outfit TRAU and the upcoming game, Brdaric said: “It is an experienced team with good players. We have watched it play twice. It has weaknesses in its game. We need to exploit them at the right moments. We have to win this match. It is like a final.”

But, CFC will have to make do without central defender Fallou Diagne, who has been suspended after picking up a red card against HFC. Meanwhile, Chennaiyin announced that right-back Reagan Singh has joined Hyderabad on a season-long loan.