FC Pune City still remain win-less this season but it is still the beginning of the tournament. On Tuesday, Delhi Dynamos FC host Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. That game will start at 1930 IST. Tune in for that. Till then, be safe and stay safe.
Awards
Sunil Chhetri collects the Club Award. Miku is given the Limitless Player of the Match Award. While Dimas Delgado is awarded the Winning Pass of the Match for the first goal, Sahil Panwar takes the Emerging Player of the Match Award. Lastly, Sunil Chhetri is the Hero of the Match.
Dominant Bengaluru!
3 goals and 3 points for Bengaluru FC. Back to top of the table. Just Bengaluru FC things. A completely dominant performance from the visiting team as they extend their good run away from home. Chhetri's two late goals in the first half put them in a comfortable zone. Miku then volleyed it past Vishal to give them the third goal. Pune came close when Diego Carlos' shot hit the post but never really looked threatening. They need to sort out their defensive duties. Chhetri almost had his third but Vishal Kaith got his fingertips to deflect it off the post. The away side was solid in all departments and deserved the three points.
90'
Full time
There it is. The ref blows his whistle to end this game.
90'
Off the post, good save!
No hat-trick for Sunil Chhetri! Takes this free kick which is around 25 yards out. He looks to curl it to the far post, but Kaith was aware and got his fingertips to it, just enough for the ball to deflect and hit the post.
90'
Added time
We will have four added minutes in this game.
84'
Another change
Former FC Pune City boy, Kean Lewis, comes in to get some game time. He will take the place of Udanta Singh.
84'
Substitution
Substitution - Bengaluru FC (In: Kean Lewis, Out: Udanta Singh)
79'
Substitution
Substitution - FC Pune City (In: Alwyn George, Out: Adil Khan)
80'
Last change
The last throw of the dice for the home team. Alwyn George comes in for Adil Khan. Can he make the difference in these last 10-plus minutes?
78'
Substitution
The Aussie, Erik Paartalu, is done for the day. He goes out for Xisco Hernandez.
78'
Substitution
Substitution - Bengaluru FC (In: Francisco Marcos, Out: Erik Paartalu)
72'
SAVE!
Sarthak Golui puts in a loopy ball from the right. He finds Jonathan Vila outside the box who takes a low shot at Gurpreet. The keeper gets low and saves his shot.
71'
Substitution
Substitution - Bengaluru FC (In: Boithang Haokip, Out: Harmanjot Khabra)
66'
Pune almost pull one back
Diego Carlos gets the ball on the left, takes a touch and drills one towards the goal at the near post. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu dives full stretch to his right but the ball hits the post and goes away from danger.
64'
GOAL!
MIKU! He gets his goal! And Bengaluru FC are three goals ahead in this game. Albert Serran clears the ball forward and it falls to Miku. The striker holds off Sahil Panwar and half volleys it to the left of the goal sending the keeper the wrong way. What a hit, son.
64'
Goal
Goal - Bengaluru FC : Miku
63'
Off target
Marcelo puts one in at the far post from the right corner. Adil Khan back tracks and heads it with no power. Sandhu and his defense see it out.
61'
Substitution
Substitution - FC Pune City (In: Shankar Sampingraj, Out: Shankar Sampingraj)
59'
Free kick
Almost another Charles masterclass. Dimas tries to play Miku through with a cute little pass but it is intercepted by the orange wall.
59'
Another card
Sahil Panwar is the second Pune player to go into the book. He stamps the foot of Udanta Singh to get punished.
59'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - FC Pune City : Sahil Panwar
55'
First change
Martin Diaz makes way for Diego Carlos. Can this inspire the home side?
55'
Substitution
Substitution - FC Pune City (In: Diego Carlos, Out: Diego Oliveira)
52'
Easy for Gurpreet
Pune try feeding a free kick in but it keeps coming back. Pena then gets the ball, chests it and volleys it with his left foot. Sandhu is well positioned to make an easy save.
47'
Yellow
Harmanjot Khabra is into the book. Clips Marcelo Pereira from the back and gets his name taken.
47'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Bengaluru FC : Harmanjot Khabra
46'
Second half
We are back for the second 45. The hosts get us underway and will want to score early
Chhetri at it again!
What an end to this half. It was all in the balance 5 minutes before the half and before you know it, Chhetri's brace gives Bengaluru a 2-goal cushion. They could have had 2 more to their name before the break. It was a cagey start to the match. Pune were asking more of the questions. Marcelo forced Sandhu with a brilliant save. But other than that, the hosts didn't have any clear chances. It was all Bengaluru during the latter stages of the half. First Chhetri missed a tap-in but scored 2 goals within 2 minutes from then. First a poke past Vishal then a fired shot past him. Bengaluru could have had a third goal but Miku's chip was just over the bar. The second 45 should bring more action. It will begin soon, don't go anywhere.
45'
Half time
The ref blows his whistle for the end of the half.
45'
Cheeky!
Another cute chip from Delgado to Miku inside the box. The striker takes a touch, sees the keeper charging out and looks to chip it over him. To his bad luck, the ball hits the top of the roof. Should he have gone for the far corner?
45'
Added time
We will have two added minutes to this half. Will Sunil get his hat-trick?
43'
GOOOAAALLL!!
2 goals in 2 minutes for Sunil Chhetri!!! What a player. He could have had a hat-trick. Miku plays a well-weighted ball to Sunil inside the box. Chhetri holds up play, waits for Sahil and Vishal to commit and then fires it inside the goal after cutting in on his right.
43'
Goal
Goal - Bengaluru FC : Sunil Chhetri
41'
GOOOAAALLL!
He might have missed one in the previous minute but he makes up for it. That's Sunil Chhetri for you. The difference between him and the others. Dimas Delgado floats in a delightful long ball to Chhetri. He makes a good run taking Sahil Panwar off the equation. Gets near the goal and pokes it past the keeper.
41'
Goal
Goal - Bengaluru FC : Sunil Chhetri
40'
Miss!
How did Sunil Chhetri miss that? He will be kicking himself. Miku drops deep and puts in a lovely through ball on the right to Udanta. The winger puts in a cross first time to Sunil who looks tap it in but it hits his left foot and goes away from goal.
37'
Free header
Dimas Delgado puts in a ball from the right corner. Finds his skipper, Sunil, who heads it with power but straight in the hands of Vishal Kaith.
35'
Out of nowhere
Khabra looks to rocket one in the top corner from outside 30 yards out. He lines it up but fires it wide of the post.
28'
Wayward
Erik Paartalu tries to add to his goal-scoring tally after he receives a rebound outside the box. He turns but scuffs his shot way wide with no venom.
24'
Corner
A nice long ball from Khabra to Udanta on the right. The winger takes a good first touch and then looks to drill it in the box. Sahil Panwar sticks out his boot in time to deflect and it goes for a corner.
19'
Superman stuff
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu showing why he is India's best. Marcelo takes a lovely inswinging free kick from around 20 yards out. He forces Sandhu to stretch to his left and make a top drawer save.
16'
No one!
Udanta gets the ball on the right and just volleys it across the face of goal. No one in the platform and the ball goes for a throw-in.
15'
First shot
Matt Mills gives the ball away to Miku outside the box. The striker runs with it and ends by being near the byline on the left. He has no support so decides to go for glory. Doesn't bend his back and shoots it high and wide. First real chance of the game.
13'
One end to another
Nikhil Poojari runs with the ball on the right. He looks up and crosses the ball but overhits it to Ashique Kuruniyan on the left side. The latter tried to put the ball back in but failed.
10'
Yellow
Ashique Kuruniyan is the first man to go in the book. Just had the slightest of touches on Udanta who was racing away from him. Really harsh on him though.
10'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - FC Pune City : Ashique Kuruniyan
7'
Good work from Alfaro
Alfaro who got the ball near the box did well to keep it with him. He tried to wriggle past the Bengaluru defense but there was too much traffic. He still manages to feed Marcelo who drags his shot wide from inside the box.
5'
Cross
Nishu Kumar looks to find Miku in the box from the left but it is cleared away by Pune. Both the teams still getting a feel of the ball.
1'
Kick off
Bengaluru FC in their white kit get us underway here in Pune. The home side in their everyday orange skin will look to win the ball back ASAP. Let's football.
Toss
FC Pune City win the toss and will kick from left to right in this half.
National anthem
The players make their way out for the Indian National Anthem.
Vishal Kaith (GK), Matt Mills, Sarthak Golui, Martin Diaz, Sahil Panwar, Adil Khan, Jonathan Vila, Ashique Kuruniyan, Nikhil Poojari, Emiliano Alfaro (C), Marcelo Pereira.
Pune looking for their first win
The two teams last met in the semi-finals of the last season where Sunil Chhetri scored a hat-trick in the second leg to take Bengaluru through to the finals. Pune are yet to win a match this season and are yet to win against Bengaluru in ISL. Both are identical in their attacking display but it is Pune's goal conversion rate that is letting them down. The Stallions will need Marcelinho and Alfaro to link up and make some play if they want to taste success. The orange and purple side are poor defensively too. They have the least tackles, interceptions and so on. Still early days, and the fact that they are playing in front of a supportive crowd at home should give them the boost they need. Bengaluru FC on the other hand will look to continue their supreme away form. They will be playing their first game on the road at the Balewadi Stadium. Last year, touring, they won 7 out of their 9 matches in the league stage, most by any team scoring the most numbers of goals. Chhetri and Miku love a game against Pune. The duo combined to score 7 goals against them with an average of almost 2 goals per game. The home team will have to win the midfield battle if they want to come up today. Join in for what promises to be a cracker.