ISL 2018-19 Semi Final Live Score, Northeast United vs Bengaluru FC Football Live Score Streaming: Miku has missed a few sitters in the first half. (PTI Photo)ISL 2018-19 Semi-Final Football Live Score, Northeast United vs Bengaluru FC Football Live Score Streaming: Hardly anything went right for Bengaluru FC in the first leg of the semi-final. In the first half, they hardly looked like the side that finished top of the table as their midfield struggled to piece together more than two passes consistently. This changed in the second half with the introduction of Xisco Hernandez but NorthEast’s industry and waves of attacks were reflected in the 2-1 scoreline that was in their favour.
However, the away goal that Bengaluru got could be a turning point. They are playing in front of their boisterous home crowd who are known to get under skin of the opposition and scoring one more goal would mean that they would be through to a second final in a row.
Semi-Final 1 - 2nd Leg | 11 Mar 2019
Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
HALF TIME! Benglauru 0-0 NorthEast
"What in the world just happened?" must be the question on every Bengaluru FC fan's mind. This has been one of the strangest halves of football you will ever see this season. Bengaluru have had more possession and yet, saying that NorthEast have been the better team is not inaccurate. Miku made some important defensive clearances before missing chances that he would otherwise convert with eyes shut and face turned the other way.
45 + 1
Nishu plays it through to Chhetri on the left, he puts in the cross. The NorthEast keeper anticipates that and takes the ball in his hands. Two minutes added on.
43 mins
Bengaluru got a proper scare when Juan Mascia collected a simple clearance and drove at goal, Gurpreet had to dive to his right to make the save.
39 mins
Redeem Tlang takes ages to clear his lines on the left and is robbed by Nishu who makes a run to the byline, Miky is in the box waiting for the cross but Keegan comes in and smashes the ball away from Nishu's feet.
37 mins
Chhetri and Gallego battle for the ball that has been lobbed up, the Bengaluru captain gives the latter a slight push and concedes a foul. The way Gallego went down, hands raised and all, he could have been in Broadway and still do the same.
30 mins! MIKU, MIKU, MIKU!
The Venezuelan receives the ball around 40 yards away on the left, starts running at defenders, cuts past five of them Messi style and gets in the box, he has only the goalkeeper to beat annnnnddd..... he passes it into the keeper's hands. This has been an absolutely crazy performance from Miku so far. If he had scored that, it would have been the goal of the season hands down. Did so well to get there and then the finish went so horribly wrong.
30 mins
And finally a period in which both sides are unable to pierce into each other's box. Bengaluru will be aware of the fact that they should have been at least two goals up by now. Apart from Udanta and Khabra, Bengaluru's forwards haven't exactly impressed today.
26 mins
And Miku misses another! Xisco on the right flank flicks it wider to Khabra who sees Udanta making a piercing run through the inside right channel. He puts it in the path of Udanta who squares the ball brilliantly for Miku who is as free as an eagle in the box, just has to turn it or at least keep it on target to put pressure, but he skies it. What in the world is the NorthEast defence doing letting Bengaluru have such easy chances? What is wrong with Miku? What is happening in this match?
22 mins
MIKU MISSES A SITTER! Wonderful cross by Nishu from the left, no NorthEast defender near it, the goalkeeper was caught out and Miku only had to turn it into the gaping empty net. He goes for a diving header instead of attempting to jab it in and misses the target. That should have been turned in. Before this, a fantastic through ball by Udanta was not controlled by Chhetri and it went out. Bengaluru's stalwarts are having an off day today.
20 mins
Bengaluru continue to give away sloppy set-pieces, Udanta blocks an attempted cross with a raised hand and that is a free kick with Miku kicks out again. He has done a fine job defensively but that is not what Bengaluru need him to be doing today.
18 mins
A period of possession for NorthEast United. They have a free kick from the right, Gallego whips it in nicely and it is causing all sorts of problems for Bengaluru, Miku is the man who kicks it away.
14 mins
Xisco and Miku stand over it, try to be cheeky and fail miserably. Xisco lightly pops up the ball, Miku simply lobs it a few feet ahead of him. They got a corner out of it though and that came to absolutely nothing. Bengaluru have been gloriously wasteful of their possession so far.
12 mins
Xisco goes down to a challenge from Keegan on the right. NorthEast players protest, replays show that Keegan had hardly touched Xisco and the latter went down like a bullet went through his left leg. Around 20 yards away from goal this free kick.
9 mins
Dimas almost makes amends by threading a pass to Miku who flicks it forward into the path of Xisco who had made a piercing run through the NorthEast lines, he takes the shot at the near post after entering the box from the left and it is completely off target.
7 mins
Bengaluru dominating possession but Dimas strolling around as last line of defence and Gallego takes the ball. He darts forward enters the box, feeds it through to Mescia who takes the shot from right at the near post, Gurpreet has it covered. That chance came completely against the run of play, suicidal play by Dimas.
3 mins
Nishu Kumar near the right hand touchline releases Chhetri with a lofted ball, the Bengaluru skipper makes a run through the inside right channel and squares the ball from the byline, Miku could arrive there in time.
KICK OFF!
Bengaluru FC get the second leg underway, Miku straightaway tries to hoick the ball to the right looking for Khabra down the flank, the ball goes out of play.
National Anthem done
Players have shaken hands, captains have chosen their sides. Seconds away from kick-off now.
Last minute change for NorthEast United FC
Robert Lalthlamuana is injured in training and Keegan Pereira takes his place, Mato Grgic to wear the captain's armband. This is the kind of thing that the visitors would have been hoping against today.
The fans
Bengaluru FC have fans that have followed the club since the time they were newcomers in the I-League. In case you're interested, read this piece that was written after last year's ISL final.
TEAMS
NorthEast United FC: Pawan Kumar (GK), Janeiler Rivas, Reagan Singh, Mato Grgic, Robert Lalthlamuana (C), Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Redeem Tlang, Federico Gallego, Lalrempuia Fanai, Jose Leudo, Juan Mascia.
Bengaluru FC: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Rahul Bheke, Juanan, Harmanjot Khabra, Nishu Kumar, Dimas Delgado, Xisco Hernandez, Udanta Singh, Alejandro Garcia Barrera, Sunil Chhetri (C), Miku
Hello and welcome!
Attack from the word go is really the most logical thing Bengaluru FC can do. They have their boisterous home crowd on their side alongwith an away goal. One more and the tables will turn completely on NorthEast United. Unlike what is the case in the Mumba v Goa game, we can actually look forward to a proper competition here.