Hello and welcome to our LIVE COVERAGE of the ISL 2017-18 final between Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
20.55 IST: BFC 1 - CFC 2 at half-time.
We've reached the halfway point of the #HeroISLFinal where @ChennaiyinFC go in with their noses in front, thanks to a brace from Mailson Alves!#LetsFootball #BENCHE pic.twitter.com/H3wWlj76Ko
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
20.48 IST: GOAL! Mailson scores his second for CFC to give them the lead in the 45th minute vs BFC.
GOALLLL!!!!!! Mailson gives @ChennaiyinFC the lead with another header!!
BEN 1-2 CHE#LetsFootball #BENCHE #HeroISLFinal https://t.co/RI4JybtK4G pic.twitter.com/QcAJsNGIHs
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
20.46 IST: Bengaluru fans in full voice for their team.
The fans have upped their banner game big time for the #HeroISLFinal!
Watch it LIVE on @hotstartweets: https://t.co/VrTw9jQNml
JioTV users can watch it LIVE on the app. #ISLMoments #BENCHE #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/PpHhN0PC57
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
20.43 IST: Block of the match so far.
Dimas thought he'd scored, but @I_CALDERON_14 with a fantastic block!
Watch it LIVE on @hotstartweets: https://t.co/VrTw9jQNml
JioTV users can watch it LIVE on the app. #ISLMoments #BENCHE #LetsFootball #HeroISLFinal pic.twitter.com/YlVXOHtTvB
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
20.37 IST: The equaliser: He believed he could fly.
What a leap by Mailson!#LetsFootball #BENCHE #HeroISLFinal https://t.co/RI4JybtK4G pic.twitter.com/XIg3hHCVmh
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
20.32 IST: What a chance!
29' MISS! Haokip finds the ball at his feet after Miku is crowded out in front of the @ChennaiyinFC box! His shot is blazed over the frame of the goal!
BEN 1-1 CHE#HeroISLFinal #LetsFootball #BENCHE
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
20.29 IST: Flashback to the first goal: Smooth as you like!
It's the fastest goal scored in a #HeroISLFinal!
BEN 1-0 CHE#LetsFootball #BENCHE https://t.co/RI4JybtK4G pic.twitter.com/Mn5WouuquQ
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
20.24 IST: Chennaiyin's Nelson gets the first yellow of the match in the 22nd minute.
20.19 IST: GOAL! Mailson equalises for CFC in the 17th minute.
GOALLLLL!L!!!! It's that man Mailson Alves from the set-piece! @ChennaiyinFC are level!
BEN 1-1 CHE #LetsFootball #BENCHE #HeroISLFinal https://t.co/RI4JybtK4G pic.twitter.com/rjTSnSga2x
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
20.17 IST: 15 minutes gone. Bengaluru FC lead through a 9th minute goal from Sunil Chhetri.
20.14 IST: Chhetri now has 14 goals from 21 games this season.
Big game, and the skipper delivers! #LetsFootball #BENCHE #HeroISLFinal https://t.co/RI4JybtK4G pic.twitter.com/boR4FoTztf
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
20.12 IST: It was the fastest goal in the history of the ISL in the finals.
20.10 IST: GOAL! Chhetri heads it in to give BFC the lead in the 9th minute.
GOALLLLLL!!!!! What a cross by @UdantaK and @chetrisunil11 finishes!!
BEN 1-0 CHE#LetsFootball #BENCHE #HeroISLFinal https://t.co/RI4JybtK4G pic.twitter.com/hS43CiKOOl
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
20.07 IST: Bengaluru FC are currently on a 15-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.
20.05 IST: Bengaluru have clearly started on the front foot.
20.02 IST: It's show time!
19.58 IST: Pre-match customs are done and dusted.
19.55 IST: Fans are ready.
#BeLimitless when you support your team! #HeroISLFinal #MarutiSuzuki #AllNewSwift #LetsFootball #BENCHE pic.twitter.com/DnJZxL1cw1
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
19.45 IST: Will Chennai's previous experience help?
.@ChennaiyinFC have been there and done that! Do they start as favourites?#LetsFootball #BENCHE #HeroISLFinal https://t.co/RI4JybtK4G pic.twitter.com/tsDLr3lcoO
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
19.40 IST: Bengaluru FC will be expecting another inspiring performance from their skipper tonight.
13 goals this season for this man! 3 in the last game! Will he score tonight? #LetsFootball #BENCHE #HeroISLFinal https://t.co/RI4JybtK4G pic.twitter.com/Nbk3JNtbkc
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
19.35 IST: Pitch side reactions.
You've picked Dhanpal Ganesh's favourite song Aaluma Doluma by Anirudh Ravichander! And here's the @ChennaiyinFC man speaking about the song.#LetsFootball #BENCHE #HeroISLFinal pic.twitter.com/dRIScIGQOX
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
We're about to write history tonight says @khuri8!
#LetsFootball #BENCHE #HeroISLFinal https://t.co/RI4JybtK4G pic.twitter.com/cZur8llj42
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
19.30 IST: Teams for the day.
Both @chetrisunil11 and Miku will lead the line for @bengalurufc while Henrique Sereno and Mailson Alves will marshal the defence for @ChennaiyinFC! Predictions for the #HeroISLFinal?
LIVE updates: https://t.co/RI4JybtK4G#LetsFootball #BENCHE pic.twitter.com/ljtrOKtJaY
#HeroISLFinal (@IndSuperLeague) March 17, 2018
Preview:
After finishing at the top of the league table in their debut season in the Indian Super League (ISL), Bengaluru FC face one last hurdle in Chennaiyin FC in the final on Saturday.
Bengaluru were by far the strongest team during the league phase, winning 13 of their 18 matches to lead the table with 40 points, eight more than second placed Chennaiyin.
They produced ample evidence of their form during the semi-finals, riding a hat-trick by skipper Sunil Chetri to thrash FC Pune City 3-1 in the second leg.
While Bengaluru dominated their opponents, Chhetri proved once again that he is one of the most consistent performers in Indian football.
Bengaluru fans will expect more of the same from their captain on Saturday.
In their short history of four years, Bengaluru have enjoyed unprecedented success.
They have won either the I-League or Federation Cup in every season and are overwhelming favourites to win the ISL title on debut.
However, Bengaluru face formidable foes in Chennaiyin FC.
Chennaiyin FC will also fancy their chances, having defeated Bengaluru FC 2-1 at their own den during the league stage, thanks to a last-minute goal from Dhanpal Ganesh.
Against FC Goa in the semi-finals, Chennaiyin FC negated the threat of Goa's dangerous strike pair of Ferran Corominas and Manuel Lanzarote and will hope to do the same against Sunil Chhetri and Miku, who have combined to score 27 of Bengaluru's 38 goals.
