Chennai, April 17 (NationPress) A crucial early goal from Farukh Choudhary was the key highlight as Chennaiyin FC clinched a narrow 1-0 victory against Sporting Club Delhi in their Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 match held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Friday.

This win propelled the Marina Machans to the tenth position in the league standings with eight points from eight games, while SC Delhi remained ninth with an equal point tally. Farukh Choudhary was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.

Chennaiyin FC head coach Clifford Miranda made three modifications to his starting 11 following their last fixture against East Bengal FC. Ankit Mukherjee, Mohammed Ali Bemammer, and Daniel Chima Chukwu came in for Elson Jose Dias Junior, Laldinliana R, and Vivek S. The team showed clear attacking ambition, with Chima Chukwu and Farukh leading the front line, supported by Alberto Noguera in midfield.

In contrast, SC Delhi's head coach Tomasz Pawel Tchorz made a single change from their previous match against NorthEast United FC, opting for Matija Babovic in place of Julio Rivas. The visitors set up a structured formation with Alex Saji playing a pivotal role in the defense to withstand the expected early onslaught.

The match started with Chennaiyin applying immediate pressure, forcing goalkeeper Nora Fernandez into two vital saves within the first seven minutes. Their aggressive approach paid off in the 11th minute when Noguera sent a perfectly timed through ball to Farukh, who unleashed a spectacular left-footed shot into the top right corner, leaving Fernandez stranded.

Throughout the first half, SC Delhi found it challenging to penetrate the well-disciplined Chennaiyin defense. They experienced a significant moment of danger in the 42nd minute when Chima Chukwu appeared set to score from close range but was thwarted by a remarkable goal-saving block from Saji, keeping the score at 1-0 as they headed into halftime.

SC Delhi returned for the second half with renewed determination. In the 51st minute, an unmarked Saji attempted a header from a cross inside the box but directed it straight at goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz, who managed to secure the ball on his second attempt.

At the other end of the pitch, Saji showcased his defensive skills with a perfectly timed sliding tackle in the 55th minute to deny Farukh a chance to extend the hosts' lead.

To shift the momentum around the hour mark, both teams made changes; Chennaiyin FC brought in Dinpuia and Imran for Ankit and Farukh, while SC Delhi substituted Sourav for Babovic.

As the match neared its conclusion, SC Delhi ramped up their efforts for an equalizer. They created a promising opportunity in the 80th minute when Fane made a penetrating run into the penalty area. However, instead of shooting, he opted for a cut-back, allowing Chennaiyin's defense to avert the threat.

In the seven minutes of stoppage time, SC Delhi pushed hard, coming close when substitute Sourav fired a late shot just past the post. Ultimately, the Marina Machans held firm to clinch a 1-0 victory and maintain a clean sheet in front of their home crowd.