ISL, Bengaluru FC 2 - 3 Chennaiyin FC: 5 moments that shaped the final

Bengaluru, March 17: Sunil Chhetri's early opener in the ninth minute of the game was expected to settle things in the Indian Super League (ISL) final at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday (March 17), but the game was far from over. Chennaiyin FC fought back through Mailson Alves and Raphael Augusto to clinch a 3-2 win and bag their second ISL title, while Bengaluru FC had their heads down.

ISL results" title="Mailson Alves, Raphael Augusto star | ISL results" />Mailson Alves, Raphael Augusto star | ISL results

There were, however, many crucial moments in the game which sealed the crown for Chennaiyin FC. Here are five of them:

Chennaiyin FC stronger during set-pieces

John Gregory's Chennaiyin FC showed how they were one step ahead of Bengaluru FC when they made the most of the set-pieces at their disposal on Saturday. Mailson Alves managed to break himself free to tap-in two headers off corners even though Bengaluru FC were aware of the threat posed by Chennai.

BFC had eight corners in the game and nothing to show for it. They also had a free-kick at the edge of the box but Sunil Chhetri's take was deflected away for a corner.

Just a momentary lapse in concentration saw BFC concede two off set-pieces, which eventually took the game away from them.

"All through the season, we have been good with the set-pieces, but today in the final we conceded two," Bengaluru FC coach Albert Roca said after the game. "We have been punished like no one had done in the league stage. They were successful in that aspect. It was a punch for us. When we felt we had control of the situation at the moment, they struck. One of our best players (Dimas Delgado) was injured and we defended with one player less.

"I don't know if it will be the same but it was a big disaster to concede those two goals and react in the second half knowing how Chennaiyin FC were defending. Probably it is my mistake for pulling out Delgado and defending with 10 men at that moment. As a coach, I accept the responsibility."

Inigo Calderon's block

Dimas Delgado almost put Bengaluru FC ahead after the equaliser when he pounced on a rebound and shot off an effort to the left post. But Chennaiyin FC defender Inigo Calderon threw his body in and denied BFC that edge. The block actually turned the game in favour of CFC. Few minutes later, Delgado suffered an injury and Chennaiyin FC scored their second as he was still receiving treatment.

Dimas thought he'd scored, but @I_CALDERON_14 with a fantastic block!

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"That's what happens in the games," Chennaiyin FC coach John Gregory said after the game. "The job of the defender is to keep it out. We have had matches in the past. We went to FC Goa for a league match - I think it was Feb 15. And they had hit a similar shot. It hit our goalkeeper on the shin, knee and shoulders and then defenders threw their body and saved it from going in. Those are the kind of clearances that are needed from defenders and that's why Calderon is there. Not the first time he did that. And I think he got smacked in the head after that. Grateful for it."

Udanta's disallowed goal

Bengaluru FC winger Udanta Singh thought he had managed to stay on-side when he brushed past a Chennaiyin FC defender to meet Miku's through-ball. Udanta kept the chance alive and his shot took a deflection before rolling into the net. However, BFC were denied that equaliser by the linesman's flag. Replays indicated Udanta had just managed to beat the off-side trap.

Udanta put the ball in the back of the net, but was denied by the linesman's flag!

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Chhetri's open-goal miss

It's almost never that you hear about Sunil Chhetri missing from point-blank range but that actually happened on Saturday. In the 85th minute and with his team 1-3 down, Chhetri had the perfect chance to bring back his team into the game.

Chhetri somehow missed one of the chances of the night!

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Miku capitalised on a bad clearance, reached the sideline and squared it back to Chhetri, who was free at the centre. Chhetri timed his shot perfectly but somehow shot over the bar.

"He's a human being," Roca said, sympathizing with Chhetri. "He has feelings and I knew that he's the one who perhaps wanted to win today more than any other. During the game, you were 3-1 down in the final and the goals were conceded in very terrible circumstances. I was trying to encourage him in the second half as he was close to my side. I saw him take a little touch. How things can change in football so quick. He scored the opener and everyone was happy. Now, this happened. But I am sure he will recover from that hard moment and help us finish this season in the right way."

Delgado's injury

Dimas Delgado almost scored but went down at the stroke of half-time to an injury. Referee Ali Hasan Ebrahim grew impatient as BFC physio Senen Fernandez tried to treat the injury on the pitch. Chennaiyin FC had a corner at that moment and the referee asked Delgado to get treated off the pitch. Roca was still preparing to bring on Victor Perez as a substitute and before he could do that, Chennaiyin FC scored off that corner.

Delgado was looking in good touch and could have played a bigger role in the second half. If only he was not injured.