ISL:Arch-rivals Chennaiyin FC and Bengaluru FC had to settle for a point each, ended 1-1 draw

ISL: The sporting contest between Chennaiyin FC and Bengaluru FC has been able to produce several animated moments over the years as the two teams have gone through thick and thin to put their side through and topple their fierce rivals.

With fans returning back for the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 season, a boisterous atmosphere will be lit up at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, with supporters from either side making sure that their chants are heard in every corner of the stadium.

The two sides have a major change in their coaching personnel and in the style of football but that doesn’t stop the fixture from producing an engaging affair. With a win in their first game of the 2022-23 season, both sides are bound to be at their best and won’t be stopping at anything to register a win that matters more than just the three points.

Chennaiyin FC and Bengaluru FC throw their respective hats in the ring on Friday, it will be the 12th meeting between the two former Hero ISL champions. In the 11 Hero ISL games between the two sides, the Blues have been the dominating force among the two registering six wins, and have found triumph against their southern rivals at least once in every season of the Hero ISL since their admission into the league in the 2017-18 season.

The Blues did the double over their rivals last season and have managed to keep five clean sheets in their last six encounters and hold the upper hand going into the contest. Although none of their attackers have got off their mark yet, the side still poses a serious attacking threat with the likes of Sunil Chhetri, Roy Krishna, and Sivasakthi Narayanan at the helm. 

The Machans, on the other side, have registered just three wins including one which came in the final of the 2017-18 season and their last win came in the subsequent season where they won the game 2-1. Since then, they have been winless for six games.

Jiteshwor and Sliskovic seemed to be on the same wavelength for the majority of the game. The duo combined well in the final third causing problems for the Blues’ defence. Four minutes into the second half, Jiteshwor found Sliskovic with a well-timed through-ball. The striker’s goalbound shot was saved by Sandhu. Three minutes later, Sandhu produced another good save to deny the Croatian, after he headed the ball on target from Jiteshwor’s cross.

In the 79th minute, substitutes Ninthoinganba Meetel and Kwame Karikari combined and almost gave the host’s the lead but Karikari’s strike was saved by Sandhu. Eight minutes from time, Chennaiyin FC were reduced to ten after Debjit Majumder took Krishna out just outside the box and received his red card.

Iranian defender Vafa Hakhamaneshi took over goal keeping duties for Chennaiyin FC till the full-time whistle. In the third minute of stoppage time, Karikari sprinted towards the Bengaluru goal before firing his shot high.

The Marina Machans will stay in Chennai for their next game against FC Goa on 21st October, Friday. The Blues will be on the road again as they visit defending champions Hyderabad FC on 22nd October, Saturday