Bengaluru: Chennaiyin FC dashed the title ambitions of pre-match favourites Bengaluru FC with a sweet 3-2 victory to lift their second Indian Super League trophy in the final here at a sold-out Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
Two headed goals from defender Mailson Alves and Raphael Augusto’s lovely curler consigned Bengaluru to defeat and further extended the hoodoo of the hosting finalist. Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring on the night and striker Miku pulled one back at the death, but BFC suffered the same fate as runners-up FC Goa (2015) and Kerala Blasters (2016).
The nerves around the stadium percolated onto the pitch at it didn’t take long for the hosts to put a spanner in the works of CFC.
Miku withdrew from his centre-forward position, dragging his marker out of position and flicked the ball into the path of the pacy Udanta Singh on the right flank. The winger crossed to the far post for an onrushing Chhetri to apply a diving header. Arriving in the 9th minute, it was the fastest goal an in ISL final.
Chennaiyin didn’t take long to bite back. Winger Gregory Nelson swung inwards from a corner and centre-back Alves used teammate Inigo Calderon to climb above everyone else and meet the ball perfectly with his head. The ball struck the inside of goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s left-hand post and crossed over in the 17th minute.
Nelson and Alves’ understanding proved lethal from yet another set-piece as horrendous marking allowed the Brazilian to ghost in and score an identical second header — his fourth goal of the season.
BFC came flying out of the blocks in the second period. Victor Perez replaced Delgado, as BFC forced three quick corners in succession. But CFC thwarted the Blues on every occasion in a fantastic defensive display.
As the Blues poured forward, Chennai went for the jugular through livewire Nelson. The Dutchman broke forward on the counter and played in Jeje Lalpekhlua, who dilly-dallied before teeing up Augusto. The playmaker curled beautifully from just outside the box and into the bottom right corner in the 67th minute, dealing a deafening blow to the two-time I-league champions.
Chhetri had a couple of key chances to pull one back, including a golden chance in front of a gaping goal from eight yards out.
But the skipper skied his shot, as BFC piled men forward in search of goals.
Miku offered a glimmer of hope that with a header off Udanta’s cross from deep in stoppage time, but an unrattled Chennaiyin held onto glory.
