@ FC Goa, December 1
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The race for the playoffs is likely to go down to the wire with draws and tight games aplenty in this year's ISL. So Chennaiyin’s semifinals fate could still be in the balance coming into this final match, just as it did last season.
Last year, it was away at Pune, and Chennaiyin had to win, and they did, with Jeje’s goal securing a 1-0 win. This year, it's Goa, the team they beat in the final last year.
Goa were the worst team in the league over their first five games, but have somehow scratched and clawed to stay alive in the competition. It could well be the case that both sides go into the game harbouring hopes of qualification.
Past matchups between these two teams had seen the away side triumph every time before Chennaiyin broke that trend and won 2-0 at home in their first meeting of this season. Goa aren't as strong a side as they were last year and not amongst the strongest in the league either thus far.
But momentum is a strange force multiplier and home support is too, so it will not be an easy task for Chennaiyin, especially with the pressure of making the playoffs. However, I still believe that amongst the remaining fixtures, this is one of the winnable ones.
The home stretch is here and in the previous two seasons, we have seen Chennaiyin finish their season strongly. They will have to repeat once again that this season if they are to maintain their streak of making the playoffs every season. It promises to be a hot finish to this most competitive of ISL seasons.
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