Daniel Lalhlimpuia strikes as Bengaluru FC beat Abahani Dhaka 1-0 in AFC Cup
Football | March 14, 2018 23:57 ISTThe victory was a credible one as Bengaluru played without their skipper Sunil Chhetri, prolific Miku and goalkeeper Gupreet Singh.
The victory was a credible one as Bengaluru played without their skipper Sunil Chhetri, prolific Miku and goalkeeper Gupreet Singh.
Chennaiyin now face Bengaluru FC at the grande finale on March 17 at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore.
Chhetri could have had another goal with a curler in 72nd minute, which was saved by a diving Kaith.
The top-scorer for Bengaluru, Miku scored his 14th goal of the season after he charged into the box and slotted past Kerala goalkeeper Rachubka.
Dovale, who became the first Bengaluru player to get hat-trick in any Asian competition, scored his first two goals in the 12th and 35th minute at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
Bengaluru, who have already qualified for the play-offs, are still table-toppers with 34 points after finding the net on 31 occasions in 16 matches.
The Sunil Chhetri led Bengaluru FC also are on the verge of creating ISL history -- if they win their next match against Pune FC it will be a record sixth on the trot.
The win takes Bengaluru to 30 points from 14 games while Chennaiyin stay on 23 but has played one match less.
Captain Sunil Chhetri, once again gave the hosts the much-needed lead, after they had conceded an equaliser just before the first half.
Chhetri (43rd, 52nd minutes) scored on either side of the break while Venezuelan import Nicolas Fedor (63rd) rounded off the tally.
The Blues, who went down for the second time on the road, were handed another blow late on as defender Subhasish Bose was sent off with a straight red card in the seventh minute of injury time.
Gurpreet, however, said he would go back to European clubs if it meets his terms and conditions.
The win gave three crucial points to Bengaluru FC, who are now leading the points table wih 18 points from six wins in nine matches.
The 44-year-old Dravid was roped in as Bengaluru FC's brand ambassador attended his first ISL match and was impressed with the fan following the club and the league has generated, terming it as ‘fantastic' for Indian football.
Brazillian Matheus Trindade Goncalves of Jameshdpur sent Bengaluru goalkeeper in the wrong direction in the first minute of the stoppage time to score the only goal of the match to the stunning silence of the home crowd at Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
Having placed second in the points table, Bengaluru are locked with FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC with 12 points each.
Chhetri equalised for the hosts in the 85th minute but in 88th minute Ganesh sealed the hosts' fate with a brilliant header off Mihelic's floater.
Bengaluru coach Albert Roca would not take Chennai lightly as the rival team is good at scoring goals from set-piece situations.
Venezuelan Miku (64th minute and 78th) and skipper Sunil Chhetri (95th) starred for Bengaluru at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune as the side registered their fourth win this season to cement their place the top of the points table.
Both teams, ranked in the top half for now, have nine points each and will look to solidify their position at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium.
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