Chennaiyin FC met Mohammedan SC in a critical away encounter to keep their playoff aspirations alive. Marina Machans got off to a great start, scoring 10 minutes into the contest. Lukas Brambilla extended the advantage for Owen Coyle’s team four minutes into the second half. Mohammedan appeared to be doomed to lose, but they fought back heroically and scored two goals in stoppage time to earn a point. Owen Coyle talked about the draw, the league’s refereeing, and his suspension for the upcoming game.
Owen Coyle on the result:
When Dinpuia headed the ball into the net 10 minutes into the game, it appeared like Chennaiyin would finally get all three points and begin to push for the playoffs. The second goal by Lukas Brambilla, as well as the score at the end of the 90-minute period, almost guaranteed them three points. But almost is never enough, as Mohammedan scored twice in stoppage time to salvage a point. Owen Coyle expressed dissatisfaction with the way in which the goals were conceded and asked for better game management from his team.
“We’re all frustrated, disappointed. Certainly, to finish with a point, I certainly think we merited all three. Very comfortable in the game. We should have put the game to bed at 3-0 with some really good opportunities. Mohammedan had tried everything they had in the locker. And we were careless. It comes down to individual error. We should have cleared the lines. The ball comes back into the box. The boy takes a wonderful touch and a great finish. So, credit for the lad to get back to 2-1. And then, pressure comes on.”
“We had opportunities just to keep the ball and see the game through. I mean, a lot of young players there, that’s the bit they need to understand. The game management. To understand, to see the game through. Had they done that, we’d be sitting in a good position to get ourselves back right in where we want to be in the playoffs. So that’s the frustration, dropping two points.”
Owen Coyle on officiating during the game:
Mohammedan SC was awarded two penalties against Chennaiyin. While the first was certainly a penalty, the penalty for the equalizer raised questions. Additionally, Dinpuia was sent off, meaning he would not play in the next match against Mohun Bagan. Owen Coyle discussed the decisions that went against the club today, stating that Kasimov should have been sent off.
“Kasimov is a wonderful player but he was booked in the first half, and he must have given six, seven free kicks in the second half. I think we were over time again. I think they added nine minutes. We were probably nine and a half at that point (when penalty was given). Every week it seems to be Chennaiyin, we had that against Odisha. But some of the stuff that happened tonight was beyond belief. But it’s happened. It’s not the first time it’s happened to Chennaiyin. But it certainly happened again.”
Owen Coyle on his suspension for the next game:
To add to his worries, Owen Coyle received a yellow card for a verbal altercation with Mohammedan defender Florent Ogier on the touchline. The coach will thus miss the upcoming match against Mohun Bagan due to the accumulation of two yellow cards. Owen Coyle discussed Ogier’s harsh tackle and the regulation that suspends coaches for receiving just two yellow cards.
“Ogier had a really bad tackle on Connor, not even going for the ball, it could’ve been very dangerous and I said to him that’s a bad tackle. There’s no coincidence that I’ve had two yellow cards this season and the fourth official tonight was the referee in Kerala. The only country in the world where the coaches get two yellow cards, and they miss the game.”
Owen Coyle on VAR and foreign referees:
Eleven red cards have been issued by the referees in the last 12 ISL games. Whether it’s proper or just a way for them to demonstrate their power, opinions will vary. However, the major decisions they made during the games have significantly influenced how certain games turned out. A dejected Owen Coyle spoke about the need of VAR and overseas referees.
“I’ve been all over the world, in the highest leagues. And there’s been a few things, not from me, but from the fans about certain decisions deciding the games. That has to be taken away, the sooner we get VAR, the better. Trust me. At least then, you get definitive things, the offsides, the lines are there, they can’t get that wrong. There was a reason in season six we brought foreign referees here, and they refereed very well. I would love Indian referees to get better, but are we seeing that? That’s the question for everybody to ask.”
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