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
 "Miku, Bengaluru FC")
Bengaluru FC's Miku celebrates after scoring against Chennaiyin FC (Photo: indiansuperleague.com)
Full-time report: Miku started where he left. Last season, the Venezuelan forward found the back of the net 15 times, and now already has a goal to his name after scoring in the very first match of Indian Super League's 2018-19 season. The 33-year-old forward's goal was the only one in the match between Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC at Kanteerava stadium, with the contest touted to be a revenge affair for the men in blue, who lost last year's final to Chennai.
But Sunday night was a welcome change for Sunil Chhetri and Co. who outplayed the visitors, especially during the second half and Miku's goal was the cherry on the top that helped them wrap up the night with full three points and climb to the second spot in points table.
Bengaluru FC started the game positively but Chennai looked to take control of the game as the minutes passed by. Jeje had two glorious opportunities to give his team the lead. The first chance came as soon as the 17th minute when Nelson put a delicious-looking through-ball, leaving Jeje in a one-on-one situation but the Chennai captain's chipped shot (or pass?) went off target and Germanpreet who was rushing to the far post failed to get there on time. Jeje had a chance at redemption in the 32nd minute when he intercepted a poor backpass by Bengaluru's but this time his first touch failed him as he looked to round the goalkeeper.
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. Bengaluru took charge of the proceedings in the second half and initiated waves of attack after attack. Chhetri, who had been quiet during the night, got a glorious chance in the 71st minute. The Indian captain was left alone in the box and received a good pass but failed to control the ball in time, allowing the Chennai defenders to take the ball off him.
Having assured a point, the home team sat back in the final 10 minutes, happy with pinging the ball out of their defensive line, and try as they might, the Chennayin players and their captain Jeje could neither create nor score that elusive goal.
In the end, Chennayin paid the price for the opportunities they missed and Bengaluru were rewarded for the handsome strike their star forward Miku made. Before the game, Bengaluru FC coach Carles Cuadrat had dismissed the talk of this match being a revenge match for Bengaluru who would have wanted to give it back after falling against Chennai in last year's final.
"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," Cuadrat had said. But the celebrations at the end of the game defied the manager's word, who himself seemed elated. But that's okay, after all, what's football without a spoonful of passion and a bottle of revenge, eh?
10:11 PM
9:43 PM
9:24 PM
Minute 90+4 -- The refree blows his whistle and brings the proccedings to a halt. Bengaluru earn three points at home in their opening game of the season over the reigning champions. Miku the hero of the evening. FULL-TIME
9:22 PM
Minute 90+2 -- Substitution for Bengaluru: Miku goes off for Semboi Haokip
9:21 PM
Minute 90+1 -- Gurpreet makes a fine save off a Gregory shot. The goalkeeper gets both his body and hands behind to parry the shot for a corner which is dealt with safely
9:19 PM
Minute 90 -- 4 minutes of additional time awarded. That's the time Chennai have to mount a comeback.
9:18 PM
Minute 88 --Substitution for Bengaluru. Boithang comes in for Udanta Singh
9:18 PM
Minute 87 -- Bengaluru sit back and defend and happily ping back any ball that dares enter the box
9:12 PM
Minute 80 -- Time is ticking. 10 minutes of regular time remaining. The champions need to step up their efforts if they want to rescue a point or take all three away from this game. Both look very unlikely though at the moment
9:10 PM
Minute 79 -- Chennai get a free-kick just outside the Bengaluru box. That's a needless, and a dangerous, free-kick to concede. Calderon steps up for the free-kick but the free-kick is awry -- too high, too wide
9:07 PM
Minute 76 -- Chennai substiution: Carlos Salon comes in for captain Nelson Alves. An aggressive change
9:06 PM
Minute 75 -- Jerry floats the ball in nobody gets the end of it, not even the goalkeeper
9:06 PM
Minute 74 -- Calderon is taken out by Nishu near the Bengaluru box. Meanwhile, movement in Bengaluru's bench as Xisco makes way for Bhutan's Chencho Gyeltshen
9:01 PM
Minute 71 -- Chhetri fluffs a big big chance. The Indian captain is left alone in the box and receives the box after a good pass but can't control the ball in time which is taken off by Chennai defenders
8:59 PM
Minute 69 -- Miku is played in by Chhetri. The socrer of the only goal today tries to take on a player too many and gets dispossessed in the end
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First Published: Sep 30 2018 | 5:12 PM IST
