Chennaiyin hit seven past NorthEast in a goals-galore tie: ISL 2022-23

Chennaiyin hit seven past NorthEast in a goals-galore tie – ISL 2022-23: A sensational hat-trick from Abdenasser El Khayati and an equally brilliant brace by Petar Sliskovic powered Chennaiyin FC to a dominating 7-3 victory against NorthEast United FC in a Hero ISL 2022-23 match at the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday.

It was raining goals at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, where the in-form El Khayati opened the scoring for Chennaiyin in the 11th minute and added two more dazzling goals (40th and 48th), while Sliskovic headed in the 45th and 57th minute. Julius Duker (68th) also found himself on the scoresheet with a goal, whereas Joe Zoherliana (79th) hit an own goal. Meanwhile, NorthEast United Wilmar Gil (36th P), Romain Philippoteaux (73rd), and Rochharzela (90th) put their names on the scoresheet.

Chennaiyin arrived into the game on the back of two back-to-back losses and showed their intentions clear from the get-go against the team, which was yet to earn a single point in this campaign, The visitors took just over 10 minutes to put themselves ahead in the game with El Khayati giving an early lead to the Marina Machans and slotting home a beautiful goal after receiving a pinpoint pass from Prasanth for the match’s first goal.

The Highlanders equalized in the 35th minute when Gil converted from the spot kick. However, Chennaiyin went pushing for the goal and El Khayati once again put Chennaiyin in the driver’s seat by scoring his second goal of the match, which left the opposition defenders stunned as he fired in exquisitely from outside the box.

Just before the break, the Croatian forward Sliskovic headed one superbly as Chennaiyin went into half-time with a double-goal advantage. Soon after the resumption, El Khayati recorded a hat-trick by netting one similarly to pile more misery on NorthEast United. It was also the seventh goal of the season for the Dutch playmaker, taking him to the top of the scoring chart of this season.

Sliskovic took the game further away from the opposition by producing Chennaiyin’s fifth and his 2nd goal of the match, again with a powerful header. And then midfielder Duker also joined the party by scoring his maiden ISL goal before Zoherliana gave Chennaiyin their seventh with an own goal with just 10 minutes left in the game. Meanwhile, Philippoteaux and Rochharzela scored the second and third goals, respectively, for the hosts, but it wasn’t enough for them as Chennaiyin comfortably secured their 4th win of the campaign.