Super Cup 2019: FC Pune City 2-4 Chennai City FC – 5 talking points as Manzi grabs another hat-trick

#1 Spanish trio continues their red hot form

Gordillo (with the ball) was the wrecker-in-chief for Chennai City

One of the main reasons behind Chennai City’s astonishing I-League triumph was the combination between their three Spanish players – Nestor Gordillo-Pedro Manzi-Sandro Rodriguez. Out of the 48 goals that Chennai scored in that tournament, only seven were scored by Indian players. Such is the understanding between these players that no team found an answer to stop them.

It was the same case against Pune City as the Spanish trio took the game away from him.

Phil Brown knew his team had to neutralise these three players in order to win the match. His plan was successful as neither Nestor Gordillo nor Sandro was getting their feet into the match for most time in the first half.

It all changed in the 35th minute when Gordillo and Sandro played a brilliant one-two in the middle of the pitch. Gordillo then provided a brilliant pass to Moinuddin who in turn passed it to Manzi to break the deadlock.

Within five minutes, Gordillo again turned the provider when he found Manzi near the box and the Spaniard scored his second.

But the third goal was a magnificent display of their understanding. Manzi got the ball on the right side of the pitch and Gordillo was shouting near the edge of the box. Manzi passed the ball to Gordillo, but the latter made a dummy run and left the ball for Sandro. Sandro scored with his first touch to put the game beyond Pune City.

Note: All images courtesy AIFF and the Hero Super Cup.