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Chennaiyin FC's Bernard Mendy in action during the match against NorthEast United FCISL / Press release

Defending Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC made their way back to the top four of ISL 2016 after recording a 1-0 win over table toppers NorthEast United FC at the noisy Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Thursday. Italian forward Davide Succi remained the only scorer of the match.

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It is the first time ever over five occasions that the Chennai side has been able to defeat NorthEast United in the ISL. The Guwahati side have won on three occasions so far while another game has turned out to be a draw. 

The reception at the stadium in Guwahati was huge as always and around 33,000 spectators turned out for the event, according to the official website of the Indian football competition. NorthEast United FC, despite this defeat, still continue leading the table as they are on ten points from six games now. Chennaiyin, meanwhile, have seven points from four games.

In the 49th minute of the match, Succi scored the all-important goal of the game in some classy way as he volleyed home, giving NorthEast United FC goalkeeper Subrata Paul absolutely no chance to make any kind of a save.

The Indian spiderman did remain impressive in the major portions of the game but when it came to the goal, Succi was just the clear winner in the duel. "This is football. At times the better team doesn't win, so I think we were unfortunate," said NorthEast United fullback Nirmal Chhetri after the game. "We did well but the result didn't go our way today. It happens, we'll chin up."

Meanwhile, NorthEast United star forward Nico Velez had to limp off midway in the first half and the entire NorthEast United team will be hoping their star Argentine forward recovers ahead of their next game on October 28.

Catch the goal and the highlights from the game HERE.