Bengaluru beat Chennaiyin, open seven-point lead at top
CHENNAI: Bengaluru underlined their class, winning the ‘Southern Derby’ against Chennaiyin 3-1 here on Tuesday to open up a seven-point lead at the top.
Sunil Chhetri scored in the fourth minute of added time , to take his tally to nine for the season, as the visiting Bengaluru earned the win.
It was sweet revenge for BFC having lost 0-1 at home to the former champions.
The win takes Bengaluru to 30 points from 14 games while Chennaiyin stay on 23 but have played one match less.
Chennaiyin let slip a great opportunity to level at two- all in the 75th minute when Jeje Lalpekhlua missed a penalty. His weak shot was saved by Gurpreet Singh.
In the 71st minute, Chennaiyin skipper Henrique Sereno was sent off, after what appeared to be an unnecessary challenge.
He won an aerial challenge against Miku, but then pulled him down .
The visiting side went ahead in the 63rd minute when Miku slotted in from close range, tapping in after a miss from the Chennaiyin custodian Karanjit.
The first half was a rather entertaining one with both sides going all out. Bengaluru’s early strike was cancelled out by the host team.
Boithang Haokip opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, which seemed to stun Chennaiyin FC.
Harmanjot Khabra crossed from the right and found Sunil Chhetri at the far post. The Bengaluru skipper headed it down for Haokip, whose shot hit the ‘keeper and rolled away across the goal line.
Chennaiyin bounced back and equalised in the 33rd minute through a Francisco Fernandes header.
PUNE CITY WARY OF NORTHEAST UNITED
GUWAHATI: Pune City will look to put aside their loss to Kerala Blasters as they prepare to face Northeast United on Wednesday.
Pune need to win to arrest their slide from the top four. A defeat for the side would give teams like Jamshedpur and Goa, who are hot on their heels, the scope to sneak into the last four.
Northeast are mathematically still in with a chance of making it to the top four but coach Avram Grant said the focus is on the match.