Indian Super League (ISL) leaders Chennaiyin FC missed out on an opportunity to go further ahead at the top when they crashed to a 3-0 defeat against NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati on Thursday evening.
The southern franchise, who had announced the signing of former AC Milan centre-back Alessandro Nesta on Wednesday, travelled to the home of the Highlanders hoping to extend their lead over second placed Atletico de Kolkata to more than three points.
However, Marco Materazzi's team came away empty handed after three first half goals in the space of 13 minutes sank them. They now take the long journey back south where they take on neighbours Kerala Blasters FC on Sunday evening in the southern derby in Kochi. In the interim, Chennai will closely follow the progress of second-placed Kolkata -- who have 16 points but with a game in hand -- as they take on Pune FC in an away match on Saturday.
The Highlanders' win elevated them to fifth place in the standings. They now have 13 points from 11 matches and are only two points behind fourth-placed Kerala Blasters who have played an equal number of games. The top four teams in the home and away league phase will qualify for the ISL semifinals.
Striker Durga Boro opened the scoring for the home team in the 10th minute. Senegalese defender Massamba Lo Sambou then helped himself to a brace, both goals coming off set-pieces. Sambou struck first in the 21st minute off a corner and then again two minutes later from a free-kick.
The Highlanders pegged the visitors back early with their passing and speed of movement, particularly down the flanks. In the 10th minute, Chennai's former Manchester United midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba headed the ball away from the danger area to repel a NorthEast attack. But unluckily for Djemba-Djemba, the ball ricocheted off Highlanders' forward Seiminlen Doungel and fell kindly for Boro, who made no mistake.
Sambou then stunned the tournament leaders with his two strikes. The second goal came off a curling free-kick floated in by the Highlanders' Spanish striker Koke. Sambou rose majestically over his markers to head into the far corner. Amazingly, the Highlanders were three goals ahead in the 23rd minute against the leaders after a return of just one goal in their previous three games.
The Highlanders managed to keep a clean slate despite losing marquee player Joan Capdevila, a former European Championship winner with Spain, in the 72nd minute. Capdevila was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
The Highlanders will travel to Goa for their next fixture on Dec 1.