MATCH 2 BFC 1- CFC 0

ബംഗളൂരു: ഇന്ത്യന്‍ സൂപ്പര്‍ ലീഗില്‍ ചെന്നൈയിന്‍ എഫ്‌സിക്കെതിരേ ബംഗളൂരു എഫ്‌സിക്ക് വിജയം. മികു നേടിയ ഒരു ഗോളിനായിരുന്നു ബംഗളൂരുവിന്റെ ജയം .41ാം മിനിറ്റിലായിരുന്നു വെനസ്വേലന്‍ താരത്തിന്റെ ഗോള്‍. സിസ്‌കോ ഹെര്‍ണാണ്ടസിന്റെ പാസില്‍ നിന്നായിരുന്നു മികുവിന്റ ഗോള്‍. ഐഎസ്എല്‍ നിലവിലെ ചാംപ്യന്മാരാണ് ചൈന്നയിന്‍ എഫ്‌സി. വിരസമായ ആദ്യ പകുതിയുടെ അവസാനത്തിലാണ് ഹോം ഗ്രൗണ്ടായ കാണ്ഠീരവ സ്‌റ്റേഡിയത്തില്‍ ബംഗളൂരു ഗോള്‍ നേടിയത്. 

ബംഗളൂരു ഗോള്‍ കീപ്പര്‍ ഗുര്‍പ്രീത് സിങ്ങിന്റെ പ്രകടനവും ബംഗളൂരുവിന്റെ വിജയത്തില്‍ പ്രധാന പങ്കുവഹിച്ചു. ഇഞ്ചുറി ടൈമില്‍ ഗ്രിഗറില്‍ നെല്‍സന്റെ ഷോട്ട് സേവ് ചെയ്തത് അടക്കം മികച്ച ഇടപെടലുകള്‍ ഗുര്‍പ്രീതിന്റെ ഭാഗത്ത് നിന്നുണ്ടായി. 

പുതിയ പരിശീലകന്‍ കാര്‍ലസിന് ഐ എസ് എല്ലില്‍ വിജയ തുടക്കം ലഭിച്ചതിന്റെ സന്തോഷത്തിലാകും ബെംഗളൂരു ആരാധകര്‍. കഴിഞ്ഞ തവണ കാണ്ഠീരവയില്‍ നടന്ന രണ്ട് മത്സരത്തിലും ബംഗളൂരു എഫ്‌സി പരാജയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു. അതിനെ ഓര്‍മിക്കുന്നതായിരുന്നു ചെന്നൈയിന്‍ എഫ്‌സിയുടെ പ്രകടനം. അവസരങ്ങള്‍ സൃഷ്ടിച്ചത് ചെന്നൈയിനായിരുന്നു.

Last year’s final right at the start

Bengaluru, 29 September 2018: It’s the first Super Sunday of the Hero Indian Super League new season as last year’s finalists, Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC, renew hostilities in their opening match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru.

Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC were the two best teams in the ISL last season and played some engrossing matches. Whenever the teams played at the Kanteerava, it were Chennaiyin who emerged victorious, including the final.

Interestingly, both the teams were known for their set-piece expertise last season. While Carles Cuadrat helped Roca perfect set-piece routines which brought in eight goals for the Blues, while more than 50 per cent of the goals scored by the Marina Machans came from similar situations. 

"The rivalry (between Chennaiyin and Bengaluru) is something I experienced for the first time last year. All three games against them were hard-fought. They had an outstanding team last year and it is going to be no different this year. It is going to be a very tough match," said Chennaiyin FC coach John Gregory.

Gregory takes the same team to Bengaluru that he had last year, except for midfielder Dhanpal Ganesh who is nursing an injury and has been ruled out for some time.

"Obviously, we will miss Ganesh. But we feel other people will have opportunities to get themselves a place in our team. Twelve months ago, Ganesh himself was on the bench but took his chance when he got it. It is time for the others in the squad to take their chances. But he (Ganesh) is a big miss for us in terms of his character and personality. Not to mention the important goals he has scored for us last season," said Gregory. 

For Bengaluru FC, this is Carles Cuadrat’s first stint as a head coach and the Spaniard will be looking to get off to the best possible start. 

The Blues dominated the league stages last season, finishing eight points clear of Chennaiyin FC. Much of that was down to the scorching pace they set at the start of the season, winning four of their first five matches. 

Cuadrat will be hoping his side gets off to a similar start this time around as well and is not fazed that they will be up against the champions.

"We have to begin the season against someone, and if that someone is Chennaiyin FC, so be it. What's important is that we go out there each time and put on a good performance. What matters is not who the opposition is, but that we focus on what we can do well," said Cuadrat, who will be helped by new international signings like midfielder Xisco Hernandez, defender Albert Serran and winger Chencho Gyeltshen.

On Sunday as the two teams face each other, the fans will be left on the edge.

Match Report

Bengaluru settle scores with Chennaiyin

BFC 1 CFC 0 

Bengaluru, September 30:  Bengaluru FC got their Hero Indian Super League campaign off to a perfect start with a 1-0 win over defending champions Chennaiyin FC at the Sree Kanteerava stadium, Bengaluru, on Sunday. 

In what was a repeat of last season’s final at the same venue, Miku’s 41st minute strike was enough for the Blues to overcome the visitors’ challenge. Chennaiyin FC will be disappointed as they got nothing out of this game, particularly after they were gifted two gild-edge chances to take the lead.

Bengaluru, though, were quick to get off the blocks with Eric Paartalu being gifted an excellent chance as early as the third minute. After some scrappy play in the Chennaiyin box following a throw-in by Rahul Bheke, the loose ball fell to the Australian midfielder’s feet but his snap shot was aimed straight at goalkeeper Karanjit Singh.

The visitors started to gain a foothold in the match through their quick breaks as the minutes wore on and they should have drawn first blood midway into the game. Gregory Nelson and Jeje Lalpekhlua broke at pace following an error by Bheke and Nelson’s perfectly threaded through ball left the India striker one-on-one with Gurpreet. As the Bengaluru goalkeeper rushed forward, Jeje slotted the ball for a completely unmarked Germanpreet Singh but his pass was over-hit with the Chennaiyin midfielder unable to direct it towards an empty goal.

Bengaluru were seeing plenty of the ball but failed to make it count while Chennaiyin continued to look dangerous on the break. Another Bheke mistake around the half an hour mark almost gifted Chennaiyin with a goal after his poor back-pass was intercepted by Jeje. The off-balance Chennaiyin forward had only Gurpreet to beat but lost his footing.

Gurpreet then pulled off a fine save from a long-distance effort by Germanpreet before Bengaluru took the lead against the run of play.

Xisco Hernandez won the ball following a midfield scrap and quickly released Miku behind the Chennaiyin defence with a perfectly weighted pass. The Venezuelan striker unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot which, despite being aimed at Karanjit’s near post, left the Chennaiyin goalkeeper with no chance.

The visitors came close to grabbing an equaliser straight after the interval following a long-throw into the Bengaluru box. The resulting loose ball fell to Inigo Calderon at the edge of the box whose blocked shot fell to Eli Sabia with his back to goal. The central defender’s clever backheel unfortunately was directed straight to the rival goalkeeper.

The visitors took the game to the opposition in the second period with Bengaluru looking dangerous on the break. One such break in the 72nd minute found Sunil Chhetri with some space in the Chennaiyin box but Calderon was quick to recover and deny the Bengaluru skipper the chance to put the match to bed.

Gregory threw caution to the wind in the closing stages by bringing on striker Carlos Salom for defender Mailson Alves. But while Chennaiyin threw the kitchen sink, the hosts held on to their lead for a perfect start to their campaign.

M#2BFCvCFC_7 : Jerry Lalrinzula of Chennaiyin FC fouls Udanta Singh of Bengaluru FC during their Hero ISL 2018-19 game at Bengaluru. (ISL)

M#2BFCvCFC_9 : BFC’s keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saves a Chennayin FC attempt during Hero ISL 2018-19 game at Bengaluru. (ISL)

M#2BFCvCFC_10 : Defending Champion Chennaiyin FC coach John Gregory reacts after conceding a goal from host BFC during Hero ISL 2018-19 game at Bengaluru. (ISL)