ISL 2018-19: Miku the hero as Bengaluru edge out Chennaiyin in 1-0 win

The only goal came out of nowhere when in the 40th minute, Miku latched on to a pass, outran Chennai's Gregory Nelson and fired his shot at the bottom of the net's roof

7:15 PM

6:37 PM

Bengaluru's starting XI (4-3-2-1): Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Nishu Kumar, Juanan, Albert Serran, Rahuel Bheke; Harmanjot Khabra, Xisco Hernandez, Erik Paartalu; Udanta Singh, Sunil Chhetri; Miku

 

Bengaluru substitutes: Soram Poirei, Gursimrat Singh, Rino Anto, Bidyananda Singh, Boithang Haokip, Chencho Gyeltshen, Semboi Haokip

 

Head coach: Carles Cuadrat

 

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Chennaiyin's starting XI (4-2-3-1): Karanjit Singh; Jerry Kakrinzuala, Mailson Alves, Inigo Calderon, Eli Sabia; Germanpreet Singh, Gregory Nelson; Isaac Vanmalsawma, Raphael Augusto, Francisco Fernandes; Jeje Lalpekhlua

 

Chennaiyin's substitutes: Sanjiban Ghosh, Laldinliana Renthlei, Tondonba Singh, Andrea Orlandi, Anirudh Thapa, Thoi Singh, Carlos Salom

 

Head coach: John Gregory

6:31 PM

The lineups are out!

5:59 PM

5:46 PM

5:40 PM

FYI, this is how the Indian Super League 2018-19 points table looks like after the first match in which Kerala Blasters defeated ATK 2-0 at Salt Lake stadium. You can read the match report here

5:33 PM

Chennaiyin FC's head coach John Gregory said he respects Bengaluru FC and their achievements, but isn't afraid of them.

 

"We've had the ability to come here and win on the two occasions we played here. So it evokes good memories for us. In that respect it's been a lucky ground for us, although it's only two matches," Gregory said.

 

"A lot of respect for BFC for what they have achieved in the first year. It was outstanding. At the same time, we are not afraid of coming here. It throws up a fantastic opening game for both teams," he said.

 

5:30 PM

And despite all the talk of this being a revenge match for Bengaluru FC, coach Carles Cuadrat has said anything but that, insisting that his squad would need more focus than emotion. 

 

"Tomorrow is our first match of Indian Super League season. We are keen and ready to face the challenge. Our aim will be to garner three points by beating defending champions Chennaiyin FC," Cuadrat told reporters on the eve of the second match of the season.

 

"We do not want to treat the clash as a revenge match as we do not want to be emotional about the final which lost against Chennaiyin last year. To be emotional is not good for the team, instead focus is what is needed," he added.

 

5:25 PM

These men have met before: thrice, to be exact. Chennaiyin have come out on top on two of those occasions while Bengaluru won one. The boys from Bengaluru would want to set the record straight while the Chennaiyin players would like to make it more askew.

5:20 PM

Hello, and welcome to the second day of Indian Super League 2018-19 season. It's the day for Indian captain Sunil Chhetri and his men to welcome the reigning champions Chennaiyin FC at home at the Sree Kanteerava stadium. The Bengaluru FC players must be rubbing their hands, not in glee but anticipation as they seek to pay back the men from Chennai in the same coin after losing out on the title.