Chennaiyin FC were once again left frustrated in the Indian Super League 2025–26 season after being held to a goalless draw by Mohammedan SC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday.
Still searching for back-to-back wins and a first victory over the league’s bottom-placed side, Chennaiyin delivered a performance that lacked urgency, allowing Mohammedan to grow into the contest and leave with a deserved point.
Despite difficult playing conditions, it was the visitors who looked more threatening early on. Hira Mondal came closest to opening the scoring when he met a cross from Makan Chothe at the back post, only for Chennaiyin goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz to produce a sharp fingertip save. Moments later, Hira had another opportunity from Mahitosh Roy’s delivery but failed to keep his header on target.
While Chothe remained a lively presence in attack, Mohammedan’s defensive resilience stood out. Juwel Mazumder made a crucial goal-line clearance late in the first half, denying Imran Khan after Mandar Dessai’s cross created a rare opening for the hosts.
Imran emerged as Chennaiyin’s most active player, trying to inject pace and intent into an otherwise sluggish attack. However, the home side struggled to convert possession into clear chances. A promising move involving Imran and Chima ended with Maheson Singh unable to control the ball in a dangerous position, highlighting the team’s lack of sharpness in key moments.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Chennaiyin unable to build sustained pressure. A brief moment of hope came when young Prakadeswaran found space inside the box, but the 19-year-old failed to control the ball, letting the opportunity slip away.
Mohammedan continued to threaten sporadically, with Chothe cutting inside and attempting a long-range strike that went over the bar. In the closing stages, Irfan delivered a cross with the outside of his boot, but Chima mistimed his volley, summing up Chennaiyin’s struggles in front of goal.
In the end, Chennaiyin lacked the cutting edge needed to break the deadlock, while Mohammedan may feel they missed a chance to claim all three points. The result leaves Chennaiyin still searching for consistency, while Mohammedan will take encouragement from a disciplined and confident performance away from home.
