ISL 2018-19: Mumbai City FC 2-0 Chennaiyin FC - 5 Talking Points

#2 Eli Sabia does not learn from his mistakes

Eli Sabia (middle) fails to put enough pressure on Rafael Bastos [Image: ISL]

Following the departure of their former skipper Henrique Sereno, Chennaiyin FC has never produced any solid defensive displays throughout this season. The addition of Eli Sabia has not done any favour to the blues who are finding it hard to replace the Portuguese International.

During the last game against ATK, the Brazilian failed to close down Jayesh Rane who had acres of space to calmly slot the ball into the back of the net from outside the box. He repeated the same mistake by allowing Raynier Fernandes to take the shot just inside the penalty box leaving the goalkeeper Sanjiban Ghosh with extra spare work to do. The defender was unfortunate for the second goal which ricocheted off him and resulted in a goal.

It is a no brainer that Eli Sabia is an enormous threat from the set pieces, but his lapse of concentration at times has cost his team at times this season. He needs to have a proper understanding with the Skipper Mailson Alves to cut down the leakage of goals at the back.