Bengaluru FC vs Chennaiyin FC, ISL 2018 highlights: Miku scored the winning goal. (Source: ISL release)
Bengaluru FC vs Chennaiyin FC, ISL 2018 highlights: Chennaiyin FC will feel they have lost a match that was theirs. They dominated possession in the first half and had two very good chances to go ahead, both of which were missed by Jeje Lalpekhlua. The second of those happened because of a defensive error and Jeje failed to put the ball into an open net because he could not sort his feet out. Miku, on the other hand, took the shot first time and slammed it into the top right hand corner. It was a gripping match and both sides have shown that they have the ability to make it to the playoffs once again.
Bengaluru FC vs Chennaiyin FC, ISL 2018 highlights: Bengaluru FC vs Chennaiyin FC. (Source: File)
First round goes to Bengaluru FC. Miku's first-half strike remains the difference between these two sides. It has been a gripping contest and the two teams have shown all signs of being able to make it through to the playoffs this season as well. Bengaluru FC draws first blood.
Gregory Nelson shifts to his right foot inside the box, left side of goal. He takes the shot and Sandhu makes the save. It was a venomous shot and Sandhu did well to keep it out.
Chennaiyin win a free kick, about 25 yards away left of the D. Calderon takes it and it soars above the bar.
Chettri finds himself one on one with the tireless Inigo Calderon inside the box. The Indian striker tries to step inside but Calderon manages to get a foot in. He takes a hit on the head from Chhetri it seems as the latter tries to gain balance. Exceptional defending there.
Udanta passes the ball inside from the left for Miku and the Venezuelan lets it run, Xisco arrives to take the shot but it is blocked away.
A Chennaiyin FC counter is stopped when Jerry clatters into Udanta. He rightly gets a yellow, there may be even an argument that he got away with it as that was one hard tackle.
Chennaiyin get the ball rolling for the second half. They win a corner, which after being floated into the box bounces on a few heads before falling for Augusto with his back to goal. He tries the backheel, the shot has power, is on target but straight at Sandhu who holds on to it gladly.
What was worse, the back pass, or the miss? It is a debate that is not easy to settle.
Chennaiyin pay for the number of open goals that Jeje missed. Bengaluru's goal came against the run of play, one could argue but that is what good strikers are for. They spot their chance and they exploit it. Miku had time for one touch and he made it count.
Xisco lays the ball into the path of Miku who finishes first time with a thunderous strike from just inside the box. Bengaluru take the lead.
Bheke's terrible pass to Sandhu is intercepted by Jeje but the Indian forward cannot convert it! Well that is one meant only for the blooper reels. Bheke, for some reason, decides to pass the ball to Sandhu from near the left hand touchline. Sandhu is at the edge of the six-yard box. The pass doesn't have any power on it at all. Sandhu runs forward but Jeje gets to it first. But he tangles his feet up and ends up managing a scrappy shot. At the touchline, John Gregory has his hand on his knees, probably wondering what on earth did he just see and how is his side still without a goal. That is two open goals that Jeje has missed today.
The match is slowly dissolving into the botched up passing ignominy that ISL matches tend to swivel down into. The two goalkeepers have been hardly called into action and both sides are losing possession with the silliest of passes.
Big big chance for Chennaiyin. Germanpreet finds himself with only the keeper to beat, he draws Sandhu in to making the challenge before leaving the ball for Jeje but the latter is a bit late to it. The ball rolls out of play with the empty net gaping. Jeje does get to it but only after it goes beyond the byline.
Cagey stuff thus far. Bengaluru FC got a look in when Erik Paartalu takes a shot off a Rahul Bheke throw in. The shot is well wide. Later Raphael Augusto misses almost a free header from a corner kick.
Bengaluru FC kick off the game. They are in their new blue kit with red streaks on the lower side of their shirts. Chennaiyin FC in white.
Before that though, a man comes to remove the ball from a cardboard box and place it on a pedestal for the referee to pick up later. Advertisements first. But let's not take anything away from the atmosphere here. The Bengaluru FC fans are there in full voice, ready to support their team as they start their most cherished tournament.
Bengaluru XI: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Nishu Kumar, Juanan, Albert Serran, Rahul Bheke; Harmanjot Khabra, Xisco Hernandez, Erik Paartalu; Udanta Singh, Sunil Chhetri; Miku Subs: Soram Poirei, Gursimrat Singh, Rino Anto, Bidyananda Singh, Boithang Haokip, Chencho Gyeltshen, Semboi Haokip
Chennaiyin XI: Karanjit Singh; Jerry Kakrinzuala, Mailson Alves, Inigo Calderon, Eli Sabia; Germanpreet Singh, Gregory Nelson; Isaac Vanmalsawma, Raphael Augusto, Francisco Fernandes; Jeje Lalpekhlua Subs: Sanjiban Ghosh, Laldinliana Renthlei, Tondonba Singh, Andrea Orlandi, Anirudh Thapa, Thoi Singh, Carlos Salom
We are building up to the game!
Hello and welcome to our Live blog on Bengaluru FC vs Chennaiyin FC ISL 2018 Live. This was the final match of the previous season and it saw a massive upset when the latter went on to win the match and the title. Bengaluru FC will hope to avenge the final loss and pick up a victory to start off the campaign on a high. But under a new guard, Carles Cuadrat, it will be interesting to see how much things will be different for Bengaluru FC.