ISL: Bengaluru FC defeat Chennaiyin FC 3-1 to avenge their earlier home defeat

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Chennai, February 6: Bengaluru FC registered a comfortable 3-1 victory over Chennaiyin FC and extended their lead at the top of the Indian Super League table to seven points at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai, on Tuesday (February 6).

Results | Points table | Big clash

The visitors created more chances and deservedly took away all three points from the game.

Bengaluru FC opened the scoring with barely a minute on the clock through Boithang Haokip. Chennaiyin FC equalised through Francisco Fernandes in the 33rd minute but Bengaluru FC turned it around in the second half with goals from Miku (63rd minute) and Sunil Chhetri in added time.

Chennaiyin FC were reduced to 10 men in the 71st minute after Henrique Sereno picked up his second booking.

Bengaluru surged ahead early. After some neat play down the right, Harmanjot Khabra's deep cross towards the far post found Sunil Chettri, who headed it down for Haokip to push it into the net, and the midfielder did so sliding the ball through the legs of Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper Karanjit Singh.

The visitors could have easily doubled their lead given the number of opportunities they created in the first 30 minutes of the game. Albert Roca's men were finding their way to the opposition byline with easy. But as it is in football, you often get punished for not taking your chances, and that's what happened.

In the 33rd minute, Francisco brought Chennaiyin FC back on level terms with a headed goal. Jerry Lalrinzuala put in a zipping cross into the box from the left and the Goan midfielder got himself between two Bengaluru FC centrebacks to thump the ball into the top right hand of Gurpreet Singh's goal.

In the second half, John Gregory's side took the game to the visitors but it were Bengaluru FC who regained the lead in the 63rd minute. The visitor's top scorer Miku was on hand to bundle the ball across the goal-line after Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper Karanjit Singh parried Chettri's shot at the near post into the Venezuelan's path.

Seven minutes later, things got from bad to worse for the home side. Henrique Sereno was dismissed after picking up his second yellow card for a foul on Miku. The home side looked headed for a second consecutive defeat but they were soon handed a lifeline when the referee pointed to the spot for Harmanjyot Khabra's foul on Dhanpal Ganesh inside the box.

Chennaiyin FC top scorer this season, Jeje Lalpekhlua, took the responsibility from the spot only to be denied by Singh in Bengaluru's goal.

In added time, Bengaluru added a third to finish the tie through Chettri after Udanta Singh laid the ball for his captain to score his ninth goal.

Early opener

Boithang Haokip scores in the second minute of the game to put Bengaluru FC ahead against Chennaiyin FC.

First of the ISL

Boithang Haokip of Bengaluru FC celebrates after scoring against Chennaiyin FC. It was his first goal in this ISL season. He had earlier scored against Transport United in the AFC Cup.

Equal terms

Francisco Fernandes of Chennaiyin FC celebrates with Jerry after scoring the equaliser against Bengaluru FC. Both teams headed into the break 1-1.

Last touch

Miku puts Bengaluru FC ahead, but wasn't it Sunil Chhetri's goal anyway?

Chennaiyin FC awarded a penalty

Harmanjot Khabra of Bengaluru FC brings down Dhanpal Ganesh of Chennaiyin FC inside the box. Or did he?

Chance missed

Bengaluru FC goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu dives to his right and saves the spot-kick by Jeje Lalpekhlua of Chennaiyin FC.

Sealing the 3 points

Sunil Chhetri of Bengaluru FC shoots past an open goal to go one ahead of Jeje Lalpekhlua in the scoring charts.

Source: ISL Media