ISL: Dhanapal Ganesh winner for Chennaiyin FC ends Bengaluru FC's unbeaten home run

Bengaluru, December 17: Conceding an early goal has always inspired a great comeback from Bengaluru FC. That happened on Sunday (December 17) too against Chennaiyin FC. What made the story different, though, is that they let one slip, through Dhanapal Ganesh, to lose 1-2 to the visitors at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

'Scuffle? I didn't see anything'

That late goal snapped BFC's unbeaten record at home, stretching over 13 games and across three competitions - I-League, Indian Super League and AFC Cup. While Jeje Lalpekhlua (5th minute) struck early, BFC took 85 minutes to score one of their own. But Chennaiyin FC retaliated with two minutes to go.

Dhanpal Ganesh leaped higher than everyone else and finished with a powerful header! #LetsFootball #BENCHE pic.twitter.com/BM8YI6NEJn

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) December 17, 2017

BFC last lost at home on February 25 this year to East Bengal after Robin Singh, a hated man here, scored twice in the 3-1 win. Sunday onwards, Dhanapal joins that list after he glanced a header to the back of the net in the 88th minute to secure three points for his side. The midfielder towered over Bengaluru FC defenders to direct his header off a take by substitute Rene Mihelic.

Where was the fight-back then?

BFC rallied with 10 men but eventually lost 3-4 to FC Goa two weeks ago. Even when they had a dubious penalty call go against them in the AFC Cup Inter-Zonal final, they drew 2-2 against FC Istiklol.

A rocket of a volley from @chetrisunil11 brought @bengalurufc level! #LetsFootball #BENCHE pic.twitter.com/AWLYpcqo9V

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) December 17, 2017

Sunday was different for a reason.

Just three minutes before that winner by Dhanapal, BFC equalised, after a frustrating three quarters of the game, through Sunil Chhetri. The BFC skipper controlled a ball on the left side of the box from Toni Dovale, struck a half-volley from the outside of his boot to power it past Chennaiyin FC custodian Karanjit Singh.

Rewinding 80 minutes, you could say Jeje Lalpekhlua was a bit lucky. But the Mizo forward was at the right place at the right time. Chennaiyin FC defender Inigo Calderon attempted to square it back to the centre of the box from the touchline. Two BFC defenders gained control, but Lenny Rodrigues' clearance struck Sunil Chhetri and bounced towards Jeje at the centre, who tucked it in.

The ball falls kindly for @jejefanai - who buries it! #LetsFootball #BENCHE pic.twitter.com/wro9VHCKml

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) December 17, 2017

"We did a mistake in the beginning and then one mistake in the final minutes," Bengaluru FC coach Albert Roca reflected on the game. "Even without this, we had two opportunities in the first half. Edu (Garcia) hit the post and then Sunil (Chhetri) had a good chance in the second half to put us out of trouble. I think we deserved to score that goal. But we had to be careful in set-pieces without John Johnson, who was replaced in the second half for an attacker (Braulio Nobrega). Another mistake would kill us. But we forgot that and conceded through a set-piece."

"He's one of our own!" said the @ChennaiyinFC fans earlier today. And Dhanpal Ganesh has given them more to chant about tonight. #LetsFootball #BENCHE pic.twitter.com/2ZiUCM7N8J

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) December 17, 2017

His counterpart, John Gregory, was happy his defence did well to contain the BFC attackers, who were not given much space to make their moves. "Well, I think the boys I have got in my team have good habits," Gregory said. "We teach them that. A lot of that is mental. They need to focus and concentrate. If they concentrate on their particular job they are given to do in a game, we make it hard for the opposition. That was the best way to sum up our performance.

"I thought it was going to end 1-0. Once they got back, we had five minutes left on the clock. We got one chance and managed to finish it off," he added.

BFC next face Jamshedpur FC on Thursday, December 21.