ISL 2017-18: Chennaiyin FC make comeback with 2-1 win over Bengaluru FC

Courtesy: Twitter (@ChennaiyinFC)

Bengaluru: Jeje Lalpekhlua and Dhanapal Ganesh helped Chennaiyin FC to pull off a thrilling 2-1 victory over Bengaluru FC in an ISL match at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here today.

Jeje slammed the ball home past a hapless Gurpreet after the ball deflected off the BFC defender just five minutes into the match.

Bengaluru skipper Sunil Chhetri equalised for the hosts in the 85th minute but in 88th minute Ganesh sealed the hosts' fate with a brilliant header off Rene Mihelic floater.

With this loss, Bengaluru are relegated to second position on the points table with 12 points in six games. Chennaiyin garnered three points and are placed third with FC Pune taking the fourth position with nine points in six games.

The hosts had good chances to score off Bheke and Miku's headers, in extra time but Chennaiyin goalkeeper Karanjit did well to stave off the danger.

In the 86th minute, Chhetri was furious over poor officiating by Rakim Saha who did not award a free-kick to him after being brought down by Henrique Sereno on the run.

Bengaluru looked a shadow of their usual self in the game which witnessed more dramatics, fouls and rough tackles than football.

Goal-scorer Ganesh was handed a yellow card after a major scuffle in the pitch. Chennaiyin players were angry over not getting the ball back when the play resumed after Sereno's injury.

The hosts were also hit by poor on-field officiating. Chhetri was not happy that the referee stopped the game for a foul against him in the first half. The skipper, who set up an attack, reckoned it was Alves who fell a bit too easily.

Chennaiyin were unlucky in the 22nd minute to be awarded a penalty after referee Raktim Saha failed to notice Khabra knocking down Jeje with his elbow as he leapt on top of him to shield the incoming ball inside the box.

Chennaiyin could have romped home the second goal, but due to Jude's slackening run into the box gave ample time for Khabra to clear the ball to the safety of a well-timed tackle.

Miku, who had scored six goals this season for Bengaluru, was a disappointment as he hardly made any impact on Chennaiyin defenders.

The hosts had their chance in the 40th minute after Chhetri seized on to a rare defensive lapse by Chennaiyin, but could not capitalise on it as the shot went meters wide off the target.

The hosts had their best chance to send in an equaliser through Chhetri, but his first time shot was too weak to trouble any Chennaiyin defender, in the 46th minute.