30' Bengaluru 1-0 FC Pune City (Agg: 1-0)
Bengaluru dominating the ball but few signs from Pune that they could carry a threat in this game. A couple of promising counter attacks from the visitors with Marcelinho laying it on the plate by firing one across the face of the goal only for the cross to go unattended. However, at the other end, there is a lot of uncertainty in Pune's defending. Bengaluru will look to profit from that
Preview: After firing blanks in their first outing, Bengaluru FC will start as favourites at home against FC Pune City in an Indian Super League (ISL) semifinal second leg clash in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Pune and Bengaluru played out a 0-0 draw at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune on Wednesday. The game had few chances of note with the visitors getting the best of them but failing to make the most of their opportunities.
Bengaluru FC and FC Pune City are locked at 0-0 after the 1st leg in Pune. Image Courtesy: ISL
On Sunday, Bengaluru will hold the aces at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium where they have lost only twice out of nine league engagements.
The two-time I-League champions, who are in their debut season in the ISL, have rarely put a foot wrong since the first day.
The Albert Roca-coached side won 13 times out of their 18 league games, losing on just four occasions with one draw to show for.
They finished on an astounding 40 points, eight more than second-placed Chennaiyin FC who won the high-profile tournament in 2015.
In the goalscoring charts as well, Venezuelan striker Miku is on second in the list behind FC Goa's Ferran Corominas netting 14 times.
Skipper and talismanic forward Sunil Chhetri has been among goals as well, finding the back of the net 10 times.
Bengaluru have been unbeaten in their last nine games, winning seven of those.
Coming to their rivals, Pune have had somewhat of an inconsistent season finishing fourth in the league table with 30 points from 18 outings.
They Ranko Popovic-coached side banked on the pair of Uruguayan Emiliano Alfaro (9 goals) and Brazilian Marcelo Pereira (8 goals) for the goals and did just enough to win five of their first ten fixtures and solidify the base.
Pune will be without their head Ranko Popokovic, who was suspended by the disciplinary committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday due to public comments against referees and match officials.
Roca, after the last game, had told reporters that it was a "scare" for his players as the occasion got the better of them.
"We were the only team to create a couple of good chances, both of which came from set-pieces. But unfortunately, we have not scored. I think this game was a scare for the players," Roca had said.
Roca's counterpart Popovic had remarked that though he was happy with his team's performance, the result left him high and dry.
"I am satisfied with the performance, not with the result. The result is only the consequence of the work. Today we worked very hard and very well."
For the hosts, Harmanjyot Khabra is still nursing a rib injury he picked up during an AFC Cup game away to Maldives while Pune have no injury or suspension issues.
Nishu Kumar and Víctor Pérez Alonso are also out injured for Bengaluru.
At this venue, the two sides played out a 1-1 stalemate in February
With inputs from IANS
Published Date: Mar 11, 2018 20:23 PM | Updated Date: Mar 11, 2018 20:49 PM
Highlights
HT: Bengaluru FC 1-0 FC Pune City
Quite clearly Bengaluru's half as they have dominated the play so far. They had chances to add to their lead and Chhetri came close just before half time. But as it stands it is his goal that has Bengaluru heading towards the final on 17 March. Pune have threatened in patches but they just need one goal to get into the driver's seat. Big second half coming up!
GOAL! Bengaluru FC 1-0 FC Pune City
SUNIL CHHETRI! scores. Once again brilliant cross from Udanta Singh but not before some exceptional hold-up play from Chhetri to create the opening. In the end, it was a good finish from Chhetri who sent a looping header past the Pune City goalkeeper
TEAM NEWS!
Bengaluru XI: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Subhashish Bose, John Johnson, Juan Fernandez, Rahul Bheke, Eric Paartalu, Udanta Singh, Boithang Haokip, Dimas Delgado, Sunil Chhetri (C), Miku
FC Pune City XI: Vishal Kaith (GK), Adil Khan, Rafael Lopez, Gurtej Singh, Sahil Panwar, Rohit Kumar, Marko Stankovic, Issac C, Marcelinho (C), Diego Oliveira, Emiliano Alfaro
20:49 (IST)
HT: Bengaluru FC 1-0 FC Pune City
Quite clearly Bengaluru's half as they have dominated the play so far. They had chances to add to their lead and Chhetri came close just before half time. But as it stands it is his goal that has Bengaluru heading towards the final on 17 March. Pune have threatened in patches but they just need one goal to get into the driver's seat. Big second half coming up!
20:46 (IST)
45' Bengaluru 1-0 FC Pune City (Agg: 1-0)
Ohh dear! Subhashish Bose is booked for a foul and he will now miss the final if Bengaluru make it. So far they are on course and are leading 1-0 with half time around the corner
20:42 (IST)
Intense stuff on the pitch. Ranko Popovic not at all happy with Pune players arguing with the referee over the foul on Udanta. He came screaming at his players near the corner flag. Meanwhile the crowd is chanting, "Fu****g disgrace"
20:41 (IST)
40' Bengaluru 1-0 FC Pune City (Agg: 1-0)
Pune losing their cool a bit. Thei players aren't happy with few tackles and have made their displeasure clear to the referee. But with 3 players on yellow cards, they could risk going down to ten men and making their task very difficult
20:38 (IST)
Rafael Lopez now into the referee's book. He is the third Pune player to have seen yellow today. Pune have to be careful
20:36 (IST)
Yellow card for FC Pune City's Diego Carlos
20:35 (IST)
Bengaluru's defenders have not committed any glaring errors yet but they are not doing enough to restrain the movement of Marcelinho. He has been finding space quite easily in Bengaluru's half.
20:34 (IST)
30' Bengaluru 1-0 FC Pune City (Agg: 1-0)
Bengaluru dominating the ball but few signs from Pune that they could carry a threat in this game. A couple of promising counter attacks from the visitors with Marcelinho laying it on the plate by firing one across the face of the goal only for the cross to go unattended. However, at the other end, there is a lot of uncertainty in Pune's defending. Bengaluru will look to profit from that
20:27 (IST)
25' Bengaluru 1-0 FC Pune City
Bengaluru in control at the Sree Kanteerava, but a reminder that one Pune goal will put the tie in their favour. Here's a gentle reminder of their attacking prowess. Gurpreet with a fine save early on to deny Pune the lead
20:24 (IST)
Goodness the crowd went berserk after Sunil Chhetri's goal! They have been non-stop in cheering their team and so far they have been rewarded well. Unlike the crowd, Bengaluru manager Albert Roca did not show much emotions. He knows the job is not done yet.
20:23 (IST)
20' Bengaluru FC 1-0 FC Pune City
Bengaluru are on top. They are stretching Pune City with their wing play who are struggling to plug the gaps in their defence. The home side look very promising early on and Pune City will have to weather this storm and stay within a goal of the final.
20:21 (IST)
20:21 (IST)
STAT ATTACK!
Bengaluru FC haven't conceded for 368 minutes and counting, but the last goal they conceded was against FC Pune City here at the Kanteerava. So still all to play for!
20:20 (IST)
20:18 (IST)
GOAL! Bengaluru FC 1-0 FC Pune City
SUNIL CHHETRI! scores. Once again brilliant cross from Udanta Singh but not before some exceptional hold-up play from Chhetri to create the opening. In the end, it was a good finish from Chhetri who sent a looping header past the Pune City goalkeeper
20:12 (IST)
10' Bengaluru FC 0-0 FC Pune City
Udanta Singh causing Sahil Panwar and Pune trouble down that right flank. Panwar misjudges a lofted ball under pressure from Udanta allowing the youngster to run past him and fire another dangerous cross, but no takers for the home side. Good pace to the game early on
20:09 (IST)
5' Bengaluru FC 0-0 FC Pune City
Brilliant start to the game. Chances at both ends. First Sunil Chhetri fails to tap home a sumptuous cross from Udanta Singh from the right flank before Pune almost score via a deflection at the other end only for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu's brilliant reflexes. Unlike the first leg, neither team is holding back here
20:05 (IST)
Early chance for Bengaluru!
20:02 (IST)
KICK OFF!
The 2nd leg of the semi-final between Bengaluru FC and FC Pune City is underway in Bengaluru. It's 0-0 on aggregate. Tense night ahead
19:55 (IST)
The players are making their way into the middle. Huge roar of cheer for Bengaluru and few boos for FC Pune City. Time for national anthems.
19:54 (IST)
Never Surrender! Bengaluru FC's faithful West Block Blues have put out a huge banner in support of their team.
19:53 (IST)
Ranko Popovic is out there with his team today, looking after the practice cen. He was originally suspended for his comments on referees but AIFF's Disciplinary Committee provisionally overturned the ban. His presence on the touchline will be a n added boost for Pune.
19:52 (IST)
Our correspondent Anish Anand gets some previews the game from the Sree Kanteerva stadium with few Bengaluru FC fans who are ready to cheer their team to the final
19:50 (IST)
19:48 (IST)
19:48 (IST)
19:45 (IST)
TEAM NEWS!
Bengaluru XI: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Subhashish Bose, John Johnson, Juan Fernandez, Rahul Bheke, Eric Paartalu, Udanta Singh, Boithang Haokip, Dimas Delgado, Sunil Chhetri (C), Miku
FC Pune City XI: Vishal Kaith (GK), Adil Khan, Rafael Lopez, Gurtej Singh, Sahil Panwar, Rohit Kumar, Marko Stankovic, Issac C, Marcelinho (C), Diego Oliveira, Emiliano Alfaro
19:33 (IST)
Sree Kanteerva stadium is getting ready for the big game tonight!
19:27 (IST)
Hello and welcome to Live coverage of the 2nd leg of the 1st semi-final of the 2017-18 ISL featuring Bengaluru FC and FC Pune City. The two teams are locked at 0-0 after the 1st leg at the Balewadi stadium in Pune, so it's all to play for at the Sree Kanteerva stadium in Bengaluru today.
Bengaluru have the home advantage but with no away goals, there will be a threat from Pune. It promises to be an enthralling clash. So stick around to find out who is the first team to reach the final.