A flying header from Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri header settled the southern derby in the home team's favour.
ISL Media
Bengaluru FC rose to the second position in the Indian Super League (ISL) table with a 1-0 in an action-packed South Indian derby against Kerala Blasters at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday. Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri's flying header in the 55th minute proved to be the winner in a packed stadium with 27,083 spectators, a record attendance for a Bengaluru FC game in the city. Bengaluru made one change to its time with Albert Serran replacing Rahul Bheke in defence after the latter's muscle injury ruled him out of the game. Kerala started the game with two strikers — Bartholomew Ogbeche and Raphael Bouli — but decided to leave new signing Vlatko Drobarov and young Indian national player Sahal Abdul Samad on the bench. Kerala started the brighter of the two sides with an energetic first-half performance and should have taken the lead when the two strikers Ogbeche and Bouli combined but a sliding Bouli could not stretch to convert the cross. Despite a slow start, Bengaluru should have taken the lead in the 28th minute when Raphael Augusto headed in a cross by Udanta, but the goal was disallowed as the assistant referee deemed the ball had rolled out of play. Bouli had a glorious chance to take the lead just before half time after he raced clear on goal only to miss the target with his shot. But after the half-time break Bengaluru began the second half with more composure and purpose and within ten minutes, found a breakthrough. Dimas Delgado's corner was met by the unmarked Chhetri with a diving header that flew into the corner of the net. The goal silenced the large contingent of Kerala fans in the stadium and Bengaluru looked to seize control of the game in the second half. Raphael Augusto went close with a glorious chance from a cross by Udanta but failed to convert it. The introduction of Sahal Abdul Samad seemed to revive Kerala however Bengaluru manager Carles Cuadrat responded by taking off Harmanjot Khabra and shifting Nishu Kumar to the right back slot. Aashique Kuruniyan, who had a bright game, dropped to the left-back role. Bengaluru FC saw out the game with relative comfort despite a contentious offside decision towards the end which saw a through ball by Sahal Abdul Samad ruled offside even though replays suggested otherwise. Before the game, thousands of Kerala Blasters fans gathered outside the Kanteerava Stadium to lend a frenzied atmosphere to the game. While many fans residing in the city turned up, hundreds arrived from different parts of Kerala for the occasion. Apart from the east stand designated for away fans, the north and south stands at the stadium were filled with Kerala supporters at the game. The fan groups of the two clubs — Manjappada and West Block Blues — indulged in banter throughout the contest. But the bragging rights were reserved for Bengaluru, who are unbeaten in five matches between the two sides, winning four of them.
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