ISL: Chennaiyin seal 1-0 win over East Bengal

Kolkata: Chennaiyin FC beat East Bengal 1-0 to notch up their second win over the same opponents this season in the Indian Super League here on Friday.

Vafa Hakhamaneshi scored the only goal of the match in the 69th minute, not long before he was sent off.

Both sides finished with ten men as East Bengal's Sarthak Golui was also sent off in the 75th minute.

The hosts were unchanged as head coach Stephen Constantine fielded the same XI that started in the Kolkata Derby last week.

Chennaiyin FC made just one change, with Debjit Majumder returning in goal after serving his suspension.

The major concern for the visitors was the absence of Kwame Karikari from the squad due to an injury.

Two minutes into the game, Jordan O'Doherty found himself in space inside the Chennaiyin box.

His cross was blocked by Fallou Diagne before it could do any damage.

At the other end, just after the 10-minute mark, Petar Sliskovic was picked out with a through ball by Anirudh Thapa. The angle was tight and Sliskovic's attempt struck the post.

Approaching the midway point of the first half, Suhair Vadakkepeedika tried to catch the visitors off-guard with a quick counter.

The flag stayed down as Suhair galloped towards goal before placing his effort wide of the far post.

In the 34th minute, Thapa sold a dummy inside the East Bengal box before seeing his powerful shot saved by Kamaljit Singh.

In the 36th minute, Hakhamaneshi was almost punished for his complacency at the edge of the Chennaiyin box.

The Iranian delayed a pass to the goalkeeper before losing his footing.