Bengaluru FC vs Atletico de Kolkata

Signing off

That's all from this engrossing game! Do join us on 7th March for the second leg of Semi-Final 1 between FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC at 1930 IST. Cheers!

Awards

The Club Award is given to Bengaluru FC for winning the game. Dimas Delgado takes the Limitless Player of the Match Award. Juanan gets the Winning Pass of the Match Award. Suresh Wangjam is handed the ISL Emerging Player of the Match Award while Erik Paartalu collects the Hero of the Match Award.

Bengaluru FC head into the second leg with a slender lead!

10-man Bengaluru FC have managed to hold onto their lead and will head to Kolkata with a goal advantage. The home side took the lead in the 31st minute as Deshorn Brown lashed onto an error from Arindam Bhattacharja. Bengaluru FC started the second half a bit positively but were soon happy to hit ATK FC on the counter. The visitors enjoyed a lot of possession but were unable to threaten Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. 6 minutes before the end of regulation time, Nishu Kumar complicated things for the Blues as he shoved Roy Krishna on the edge of the box after a brisk counter. ATK FC though failed to make the extra man count and BFC managed to hold onto their slender lead.

Full time

The referee blows his whistle and calls curtains on this game.

Added time

4 minutes have been added at the end of regulation 90.

Wasted free kick

Armando Sosa Pena stands on the free kick and takes it by himself but once again he hits the wall and this time the wall is in place. Another chance goes begging for the away side to equalize.

Another yellow card

Harmanjot Khabra has been shown a yellow card for encroachment. He comes out of his line before the free kick is taken and the referee dishes out a yellow card.

Red Card

Nishu Kumar has been given his marching orders. Roy Krishna is on his bike and looks to hit Bengaluru FC on the counter. He is away on goal with only Nishu with him. The Bengaluru FC defender pulls Krishna back just outside the box. The referee spots it and dishes out a red card to Nishu Kumar.

Yellow card

More defending for ATK FC to do as Sumit Rathi uses illegal force to bring down Suresh Wangjam.

Wayward

Erik Paartalu makes a dashing run on the left and whips in a low cross to find Sunil Chhetri, who hits it first time but cannot keep his shot on target. Another day and it would have been 2-0 to BFC.

Good save

Arindam Bhattacharja pulls out a very good save to keep the deficit to one. Kevaughn Frater gets the ball outside the box and he unleashes a swinging shot. Arindam Bhattacharja dives to his left and pulls out a very good save.

Substitution

Armando Sosa Pena makes his way in, replacing Javier Hernandez. Can Pena make the difference and get the equaliser for his side?

Yellow card

Kevaughn Frater shoves Regin Michael and the referee has had enough of this fidgety fouls from Kevaughn Frater and writes his name on his book.

Possession counting to nothing

ATK FC are enjoying lion's share of possession but they are unable to open Bengaluru FC's backline.

Defense is the best form of attack

Bengaluru FC are happy to sit back and hit the tourists on the counter. A goal here for the away side will completely change the mood in the arena.

Substitution

Second change for the home side. The man who has made the difference , the goalscorer, Deshorn Brown has done his job and he comes off for Francisco Borges.

Great composure

Prabir Das whips a cross from the right but Suresh Wangjam keeps his calm and chests it back to the keeper with ease.

Punched away!

Arindam Bhattacharja with a vital punch! Deshorn Brown gets a through ball on the right and he pulls it back, he then whips the cross in. Sunil Chhetri jumps higher than his defender and gets his header on target but Arindam Bhattacharja punches it away for a corner. The resulting corner is dealt with by ATK FC.

Second half kicks off!

ATK FC get the first touch on the ball and the second 45 is underway. The touring team is trailing at the moment and will be eyeing an early equalizer. Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC have made a forced change as Albert Serran is not able to continue and is replaced by Kevaughn Frater.

Goalkeeping howler keeps BFC's noses in front!

What a great half of football we have witnessed in Bengaluru! It is the home side who have the lead heading into the break but it could have been a different story. The visitors started on an attacking note and everyone through David Williams broke the deadlock in the 17th minute but a superb decision from the referee turned the goal down as Williams had handled the ball in the build-up to the goal. Bengaluru FC started to grow into the game after that and a goalkeeping error from Arindam Bhattacharja around the half-hour gifted Deshorn Brown the opener. ATK failed to make Gurpreet Singh Sandhu work hard and they will need to find that cutting edge in the final third if they are to equalize and bag an away goal. Can the away side make a comeback or will Bengaluru FC build on this slender lead?

Half time

The referee blows his whistle and brings an end to the first half.

Added time

2 minutes have been added on at the end of regulation 45.

Just over!

Deshorn Brown almost got his brace. The Bengaluru FC forward shows good strength to keep the hold of the ball, he then unleashes a powerful shot but it goes over the bar.

Straight into the wall

Javier Hernandez takes the free kick but his effort hits Erik Paartalu, who is standing in the wall. Poor from the ATK FC player.

Yellow card

First yellow card of the game and it goes to Juanan. He takes down Edu Garcia with a rough sliding tackle just outside the box.

GOALLL!!!

The defending champions have taken the lead in front of their own fans and it is Deshorn Brown who has broken the deadlock. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu plays a long ball on the left, Sunil Chhetri runs behind his defender and heads it towards Erik Paartalu. He lays it up to Juanan who takes it on his right foot and looks to curl it on the far post but his shot is low. Arindam Bhattacharja gets down and gets the ball but he fails to bask it in and ends up spilling it. Deshorn Brown pounces on that slight error like a cheetah and slots it home. The home fans are going absolutely berserk and the BFC players are up and running in celebrations. Arindam Bhattacharja will be kicking himself for that howler.

Dangerous corner

Dimas Delgado whips in a dangerous inswinging corner inside the box in a dangerous area, Albert Serran jumps and the ball brushes his head and then goes out of play off Roy Krishna's head. The second corner does not possess any threat.

Close but still far

Javier Hernandez gets the ball outside the box on the right. He takes a touch and then looks to hit it with his left foot but his low shot is wide of the goal.

Fumble but safe

Dimas Delgado plays an aerial, searching ball behind the defense on the left to find Sunil Chhetri. He heads it across, to the centre but Arindam Bhattacharja comes out and looks to gather it. The keeper fumbles but recovers well.

Goalll...Noo handball!

Wonderful finish from David Williams but the linesman has his flag up for offside. Roy Krishna plays a lovely ball in centre to find David Williams with acres of space and alone with the keeper. Williams takes a lovely touch and then gets into the box, he blasts the ball in the back of the net. He is off to celebrate but his celebration is cut short as the referee has stopped the play. Actually it is not an offside. The referee blew the whistle as David Williams handled the ball while controlling. Excellent spot from the referee.

Good cross!

David Williams makes the run with the ball on the left and whips in a dangerous cross inside the box. Roy Krishna runs between the two centre backs and stretches to get to the ball but unfortunately, he cannot get anything on it. A decent touch and that might have opened the scoring and given ATK FC the away goal.

Foul

Suresh Wangjam trips down Javier Hernandez. The referee spots it and has awarded a free kick. No early card yet.

Just over!

First corner of the game and it falls to the home side. Dimas Delgado whips in an outswinging corner from the right. Rahul Bheke jumps high and gets his header on it but he cannot get over the ball and heads it over the post. First real threat of the game.

Off target

Edu Garcia gets the ball from a throw-in and he sees a lot of space to try his luck. His shot is a scuffed one and it goes well wide of the goal, without troubling Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Kick off!

The referee blows his whistle and the home side gets us underway for the first half.

Toss

ATK FC win the toss and decide to attack from left to right in the first half.

National Anthem

Both sets of players walk out to the middle for the Indian National Anthem.

ATK FC - Playing XI

Arindam Bhattacharja (GK), Sumit Rathi, John Johnson, Pritam Kotal, Prabir Das, Regin Michael,Michael Soosairaj, Roy Krishna (C), Javier Hernandez, Edu Garcia, David Williams.

Bengaluru FC - Playing XI

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Rahul Bheke, Albert Serran, Juanan, Harmanjot Khabra, Nishu Kumar, Erik Paartalu, Dimas Delgado, Suresh Wangjam, Sunil Chhetri (C), Deshorn Brown.

Defending champions welcome 2-time champions!

After a rampant win for Chennaiyin FC in Semi-Final 1 of the Indian Super League, we now head to Bengaluru as the defending champions get ready to host 2-time winners ATK FC. This one promises to be a pulsating contest, just like the one we witnessed the last time around these two teams played each other. Both these teams have been water-tight in defense, so we expect it to be a tight game. Starting with Bengaluru FC, they have reached this stage of the competition through superb defending and knicking wins against their opponents. Despite boasting the likes of skipper Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh, and Ashique Kuruniyan, they managed to score just 22 goals in the league stages. Aside from skipper Chhetri, no other Bengaluru FC player has scored more than 2 goals this season. The hosts will be heavily reliant on their defensive line and star goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, to keep out the likes of Roy Krishna, Edu Gracia, and Jayesh Rane. Coming to the visitors, ATK FC have had an amazing season so far. They have been resolute in defense and penetrative when they attack as well. Pritam Kotal and Sumit Rathi have been leading the charge when defending. Goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja has been prone to some mistakes but on the big stage, and he will be hoping that he can bring his best out against Bengaluru FC. On the attacking end, ATK FC have been scintillating, with Roy Krishna their top-scorer. Players such as Michael Soosairaj, Armando Sosa Pena, Edu Garcia, and Jayesh Rane will be looking to provide the artillery for Roy Krishna to fire home. An exciting contest awaits us at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Who will come out on top in the first leg of this Semi-Final?r a rampant win for Chennaiyin FC in Semi-Final 1 of the Indian Super League, we now head to Bengaluru as the defending champions get ready to host 2-time winners ATK FC. This one promises to be a pulsating contest, just like the one we witnessed the last time around these two teams played each other. Both these teams have been water-tight in defense, so we expect it to be a tight game. Starting with Bengaluru FC, they have reached this stage of the competition through superb defending and knicking wins against their opponents. Despite boasting the likes of skipper Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh, and Ashique Kuruniyan, they managed to score just 22 goals in the league stages. Aside from skipper Chhetri, no other Bengaluru FC player has scored more than 2 goals this season. The hosts will be heavily reliant on their defensive line and star goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, to keep out the likes of Roy Krishna, Edu Gracia, and Jayesh Rane. Coming to the visitors, ATK FC have had an amazing season so far. They have been resolute in defense and penetrative when they attack as well. Pritam Kotal and Sumit Rathi have been leading the charge when defending. Goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja has been prone to some mistakes but on the big stage, he will be hoping that he can bring his best out against Bengaluru FC. On the attacking end, ATK FC have been scintillating, with Roy Krishna their top-scorer. Players such as Michael Soosairaj, Armando Sosa Pena, Edu Garcia, and Jayesh Rane will be looking to provide the artillery for Roy Krishna to fire home. An exciting contest awaits us at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Who will come out on top in the first leg of this Semi-Final?