CHENNAI: It was a must-win game for Chennaiyin FC and skipper Anirudh Thapa led from the front as the two-time ISL champions beat local favourites NEROCA FC 2-0 in their last league match to enter the Durand Cup quarterfinals in Imphal on Monday. Thapa scored a brilliant goal in the 15th minute and assisted Vafa Hakhamaneshi to notch up the second in the 71st minute to seal the deal for Chennaiyin.
Chennaiyin entered the knock-out stage as the second team from Group C. Hyderabad FC topped the group with 9 points from four matches while Chennaiyin finished with 7 points from four games.