Two-time ISL winners Chennaiyin FC face two-time I-League champions Gokulam Kerala in a crucial Group C clash of the Kalinga Super Cup 2024.
CHN vs GKFC Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 16 January 2024
Time: 14:00 (IST)
Venue: Kalinga Pitch 1, Bhubaneshwar
CHN vs GKFC Match Preview
An 81st-minute header from Jordan Murray from a delightful cross by Connor Shields saved Chennaiyin FC from conceding consecutive defeats to Punjab FC in their Kalinga Super Cup 2024 opener which finished 1-1. It was the third share of spoils between the sides in this fixture. The Marina Machans went down in the match as early as the fourth minute but with the I-League winners down to 10 before half-time, it gave them a chance to crawl back into the game in the second half. Not before they had Rafael Crivellaro shown a second yellow to have a player disadvantage themselves and a series of opportunities spurned. Chennaiyin had to settle for a point which does not help them unless they pick up a victory in the next match against Gokulam Kerala. This will be the first meeting with the two-time I-League winners, the one in which the ISL outfit wants a positive outcome to stay in contention for the top spot.
Despite taking a shock lead against Mumbai City through I-League Golden Boot chaser Alex Sanchez, his 13th strike in all competitions, Gokulam Kerala failed to hold on to their advantage to lose 2-1 from a last-minute penalty. The Malabarians created several opportunities to add to their tally, especially from corners, but nothing came out of it. Goalkeeper Avilash Paul also made some magnificent saves to keep the score-line respectable for Gokulam. Losing the opener leaves Domingo Oramas’s team to avoid another defeat in the remaining games of the group to prevent an early exit from the Kalinga Super Cup 2024. Like them, their next opponent Chennaiyin FC are going through a rough patch of form but remains a dangerous prospect if taken lightly. Both defences have conceded seven to eight goals in their last five games so it is left to see who stands their ground in the clash.
CHN vs GKFC Recent Form (all competitions)
CHN: DLLWD
GKFC: LWDLD
CHN vs GKFC Recent Form (Kalinga Super Cup 2024)
CHN: D
GKFC: L
CHN vs GKFC Predicted Lineups
Chennaiyin FC:
Samik Mitra; Ankit Mukherjee, Lazar Cirkovic, Ryan Edwards, Aakash Sangwan; Jiteshwor Singh, Cristian Battocchio; Connor Shields, Farukh Choudhary, Rahim Ali; Jordan Murray
Gokulam Kerala:
Avilash Paul; Nidhin Krishna, Abdul Hakku, Bouba Aminou, Muhammed Saheef; Rishad Pazhaya, Nikola Stojanovic, Abhijith, Sreekuttan VS; Emmanuel Justine, Alex Sanchez
CHN vs GKFC Dream11 Team Prediction
Both sides are almost equal in terms of form so a draw is the most likely outcome of the match which will not give Chennaiyin FC or Gokulam Kerala any favour in the race for top spot.
CHN vs GKFC Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Connor Shields
Vice-captain Picks: Jordan Murray, Alex Sanchez
Our top picks for the CHN vs GKFC Dream11 team are Connor Shields and Alex Sanchez.
CHN vs GKFC Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Avilash (7.5)
DEF: Ankit (8.5), Bouba (7.5), Edwards (8.5), Sangwan (8.5)
MID: Rishad (8.5), Battocchio (7.5), Farukh (7.5)
FW: Shields (8.5), Murray (7), Sanchez (6)
Captain: Connor Shields
Vice-captain: Jordan Murray
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