ISL: Sunil Chhetri strikes as Bengaluru beat Mumbai City 1-0 in first leg of semi-final

Sunil
Chhetri
came
on
as
a
substitute
and
found
the
back
of
the
net
in
the
78th
minute
to
give
the
Blues
a
vital
advantage
ahead
of
the
second
leg
in
Bengaluru
on
Sunday.

As
they
have
all
season,
the
Islanders
were
once
again
the
team
that
dominated
possession
and
created
more
scoring
chances
than
their
opponents.
In
the
second
minute,
Greg
Stewart
set
the
pace
down
the
right
with
a
low
cross
back
into
the
box
for
Bipin
Singh,
whose
shot
was
blocked
by
Prabir
Das.

The
defender
was
called
into
action
again
just
ten
minutes
later
to
deny
Lalengmawia
Ralte
and
Jorge
Diaz
after
a
one-two.

At
the
other
end
of
the
pitch,
Roshan
Naorem’s
through
ball
went
past
Mourtada
Fall,
but
Phurba
Lachenpa
went
down
and
reached
the
ball
before
Roy
Krishna
could
cause
damage,
and
this
was
largely
the
extent
of
the
Blues’ penetration
in
the
first
half.

Just
over
five
minutes
away
from
the
break,
Stewart
sent
Diaz
through
on
goal
with
a
defense-splitting
pass
from
the
edge
of
the
box.
Gurpreet
Singh
Sandhu
was
quick
to
get
off
the
line
to
thwart
the
Argentine
striker
as
the
deadlock
remained
intact
at
the
break.

Before
the
hour-mark,
Bengaluru
FC
brought
on
Chhetri
to
replace
Sivasakthi
Narayanan,
and
the
veteran
made
the
difference
for
his
side
for
the
second
game
in
a
row.
In
the
final
quarter
of
the
game,
moments
after
Das’
long-range
effort
was
palmed
over
the
bar
for
a
corner,
the
deadlock
was
broken
by
the
visitors.

Chhetri
escaped
his
marker
and
made
his
way
towards
the
near
post,
where
he
headed
Roshan’s
corner
in
from
close
range
to
nab
a
crucial
goal
for
his
side.

Bengaluru
FC
were
then
the
team
that
created
the
more
potent
chances
as
the
hosts
were
resigned
to
playing
outside
the
box
by
a
disciplined
defence.
Chhetri
was
at
the
forefront
again,
forcing
two
saves
from
Lachenpa.

One
of
them
was
in
the
final
minute
of
stoppage
time,
as
Bengaluru
FC
broke
way
to
create
a
3-v-2
situation
in
the
final
third
as
the
ball
came
to
an
unmarked
Chhetri.
He
went
for
goal
at
the
near
post
but
Lachenpa
was
alert
to
keep
Bengaluru
FC’s
advantage
to
a
less
intimidating
level
ahead
of
the
second
leg.

The
Blues
held
on
to
the
slender
advantage
eventually,
extending
their
winning
streak
to
ten
games
in
the
Hero
ISL.
They
will
return
to
the
Sree
Kanteerava
Stadium
on
Sunday,
March
12,
for
the
second
leg
with
a
vital
advantage.