Former Hull City wing-back Bernard Mendy scored with a stunning bicycle kick as hosts Chennaiyin FC beat Kerala Blasters 2-1 in a Hero Indian Super League match in Chennai on Tuesday.
Chennaiyin now have two victories from as many matches, while Kerala are at the bottom of the table, having lost both their games in the inaugural tournament.
The Chennai outfit got the lead through Elano Blumer, their best player. The Brazilian import scored from a spot-kick, while Scottish striker Iain Hume's powerful volley from close range helped Kerala the equalise.
However, it was a magical goal by Mendy in the 63rd minute that made even cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, clad in the canary yellow Kerala Blasters' jersey, applaud, and Amitabh Bachchan, Chennaiyin co-owner Abhishek Bachchan and Tamil mega star Rajinikant erupt in joyous celebration.
From an indirect free-kick, taken by Elano, the ball curled in and East Bengal captain Harmanjot Singh Khabra headed it towards the edge of the six-yard box.
Mendy, sensing a chance, swerved his body and executed a brilliant bicycle kick which had veteran English goalkeeper David James beaten all ends up.
The Frenchman, while playing for Hull City had scored against Manchester United in a Premiership game in 2010. Hull lost that match 3-4.
Tuesday's ISL match was dominated by the Chennai team, playing in navy blue jerseys.
They enjoyed better ball possession and could have scored as early as the first minute when Abhishek Das put in a cross for Balwant Singh, whose header missed the target by a whisker.
In the 14th minute East Bengal stopper Gurvinder Singh's ill-timed tackle saw Das sprawling inside the penalty box. The referee pointed at the dreaded spot and Elano sent the ball past James.
For Blasters, the problem is the sluggish approach of a distinctly overweight Michael Chopra, who has clearly left his best days far behind.
The former Newcastle United striker doesn't have the same reflexes and Hume found himself all alone inside the box and CS Sabeeth found it difficult to match the Scot's pace.
It was a perfect set-piece. Victor Herrero Forcada took a corner kick, which right-back Nirmal Chhetri, while overlapping, headed down. The ball rebounded off a Chennai defender and Hume smashed it home a rasping volley.
However, Mendy's magic saw the home team end on a happy note.
Image: Chennaiyin FC player Bernard Mendy along with teammates celebrating after scoring a goal against Kerala Blasters FC during the Indian Super League 2014 match in Chennai on Tuesday.
Photo: PTI
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