ISL 2015: Mendoza's hattrick helps Chennaiyin FC sink Kerala Blasters 4-1

Stiven Mendoza scored his second hattrick of the season

Sometimes the scoreline does not reflect the nature of the game, but that was not the case here. Materazzi’s side were rampant through the game, barely giving the visitors a chance. Stiven Mendoza once again the hero for the men in blue as he left the Blasters with bleak prospects of progress to the next round.

Chennaiyin coach Marco Materazzi surprised everyone by leaving Elano on the bench. Bruno Pelissari took his compatriot's place in midfield. That was one of five changes Chennaiyin made from the 2-1 defeat in Kolkata, as Stiven Mendoza and Jeje Lalpekhlua took their places up front. Terry Phelan named an unchanged lineup from the team that thrashed NorthEast United 4-1 at Guwahati.

Kerala got a goal in 29 seconds on that night in Guwahati and almost had one in 26 seconds here, but Cavin Lobo's shot off Antonio German's cross came back off the post as Chennaiyin breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Chennaiyin survived that scare and took the lead in the third minute through Dhanachandra Singh. Thoi Singh's cross from the right wing was headed away by Rahul Bheke, straight into the path of the Chennaiyin left back who made solid contact with his left footed volley to send the home crowd into raptures.

Chennaiyin rode on that high and pressed Kerala, as the visitors looked rattled. Pelissari's cross whizzed right across the face of goal but no one was there to make the crucial touch.

Raphael Augusto was next to threaten for Chennaiyin as he gave Sandesh Jhingan the eyes, making space for a left-footed shot that he put over Stephen Bywater's crossbar.

Chennaiyin then doubled their lead in the sixteenth minute, as a fantastic ball from the inspired Dhanachandra saw Mendoza in space in the penalty area, and the Colombian was calm and took his time before curling the ball past a hapless Bywater.

Kerala then threatened through Pulga after a quick free kick caught Chennaiyin out. But the Brazilian's shot was kept out by Edel Bete, who returned in goal for Chennaiyin in place of Karanjit Singh.

In the 25th minute, an early pass from Raphael set Mendoza away only for the assistant's flag to go up. As replays showed, Mendoza was played onside by Sandhesh Jhingan. 5 minutes later a mix-up between Jhingan and Saumik Dey nearly put Jeje through but the centre-half recovered in time to put the ball out for a corner.

As has been the norm in their home games, Chennaiyin had most of the play and Materazzi would have been hoping at this stage, that there be no lapses in concentration. Exactly that, was what nearly happened as Bernard Mendy clattered into Edel while defending a cross, but Pulga's shot hit the side-netting.

Materazzi was soon in the thick of things as he got himself involved in an altercation with Saumik. Elano, from the Chennaiyin bench, had to act as peacemaker. Chennaiyin nearly got themselves a third with what would have been one of the goals of the tournament. Some fabulous interplay between Jeje, Khabra and Mendoza saw Khabra reach the byline but his pull back was not cleanly met by Jeje, before Rahul Bheke put the ball out for a corner.

They had another similar opportunity with Pelissari's cut back for Jeje, but the striker's shot was blocked by Bheke. In two minutes added on, Jeje was once again in the action, as Pelissari played a neat one-two with him, before completely miscuing a left-footed shot.

A half that began shakily for Chennaiyin ended up as close to perfect as they could imagine.

The second half began amidst heavy showers as the unrelenting monsoon refuses to spare Chennai. Kerala began the half by bringing Bruno Perone on for captain Peter Ramage. They started the half much better as they stroked the ball around, and were sparring to find an opportunity.

But Chennaiyin had the first two opportunities of the half, and both should have been put away. But on both occasions, Chennaiyin fluffed their lines. The first time, Jeje found himself running at Saumik with Mendoza for company but his square ball sent the Colombian too wide, and the chance went begging.

The next was Mendoza's turn to return the favour, as he found himself in an identical position but his square ball was too far ahead of Jeje. Kerala then won themselves a free-kick from a decent crossing position, but Josu went for goal. His shot was comfortably held by Edel.

From another free-kick, a perfectly floated pass from Mehtab Hossain found Jhingan at the far post, but the centre-back's header was too high.

Kerala were desperately looking for the goal that would bring them back into the contest, but they were lacking the creative edge in the final third. But, Chennaiyin continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack even though nothing of note materialized.

The third did ultimately arrive for Chennaiyin. Mendoza set Thoi Singh away on the left wing, and the Manipuri kept his calm before pushing the ball back into the Colombian's path for his 8th goal of the season.

A minute later, Chennaiyin had a fourth as Mendoza completed his second hat-trick of the season. Khabra's aerial pass found Mendoza clear of the Kerala defense, and all he had to do was poke the ball past Bywater to make the Golden Boot well and truly his own, as he scored his 9th goal of the season.

He was soon taken off to be replaced by Balwant Singh as the Marina Arena rose in unison to salute their hero. Kerala got themselves a consolation, as a Mehtab free-kick fell to German, whose shot was deflected in by Dagnall, for whom it was some reward for putting in an honest shift.

Ultimately, it was a game in which Kerala really couldn't get going, and the quality of Mendoza shone through as Chennaiyin kept their hopes alive, and virtually sent Kerala out of contention.