Bambolim (Goa): Chennaiyin FC pulled off a hard fought 1-0 win over Hyderabad FC in their opening match of the Indian Super League here on Tuesday.
Vlagyimir Koman (66th minute) scored from the spot to give Chennaiyin a crucial lead, eventually sealing all three points as Hyderabad were left to rue their wastefulness in front of the goal, especially in the first half.
Hyderabad, whose average age of Indian players in the line-up was just 24, were dealt a major blow early on with Halicharan Narzary limping inside 10 minutes.
That did not deter their resolve to stamp their impression as former ATK Mohun Bagan man Edu Garcia's shot was cleared away in a hurry but Bartholomew Ogbeche could not follow through.
Chennaiyin had goalkeeper Vishal Kaith to thank for keeping the former champions in the game. Kaith was tested a few times but he emerged unscathed.
Ogbeche missed chances but substitute Nikhil Poojary's work-rate near the box only gained him new admirers.
Chennaiyin's Kyrgyz playmaker Mirlan Murzaev's header went off-target from a darting cross in by Reagan Singh.
Murzaev and Lallianzuala Chhangte proved hard to contain post the break.
New captain Anirudh Thapa then made it count for his side winning a penalty as he was brought down by Hitesh Sharma inside the box.
Former AS Monaco man Vlagyimir Koman stepped up to deliver a powerful piledriver that gave goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani no chance, breaking the deadlock with little over 20 minutes to play.
Manolo Marquez made four changes at a go. Joel Chianese, Javi Siverio, Sahil Tavora and young striker Rohit Danu were introduced in the 77th minute.
However, there wasn't to be another goal in the game.