Chhetri scores in Bengaluru FC's 1-0 win over Kerala Blasters

Talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri scored winning goal as Bengaluru FC beat Kerala Blasters 1-0 in an action-packed Indian Super League match at Sree Kanteerava stadium here on Saturday. Though Kerala Blasters battled valiantly, Chhetri scored winner with a brilliant header in 55th minute to preserve his side's unbeaten record in ISL. win saw Blues climb up to second on table with nine points from five games while Kerala Blasters, winless after opening match, are at seventh.

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away side showed plenty of intent right from start, pressing Bengaluru hard and forcing mistakes from reigning champions.  first chance did fall for Kerala Blasters when Sergio Cidoncha picked out Rahul KP at far post with a lovely cross. However, youngster mistimed his header and chance went abegging. An energetic Kerala Blasters continued to dictate terms and should have taken lead six minutes later. Bartholomew Ogbeche fed Raphael Messi Bouli into box. He tried to return favour, but a sliding Ogbeche just could t get re.

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Bengaluru, after a slow start, started to get more on ball and create chances. y thought y had lead in 28th minute when Harmanjot Khabra played Udanta Singh free down right wing. winger's cross from byline was headed in by Raphael Augusto, but linesman deemed ball to have gone over line before Udanta got cross in. An unfazed Kerala continued to ask questions of Bengaluru defence. But re were nervous moments for away side in defence too. Albert Serran headed over from point-blank range after Augusto pulled back a ball from byline in 36th minute. Six minutes later, Messi Bouli wriggled clear of Albert Serran to latch on to a long goal kick from Rehenesh TP, finding himself one-on-one with Bengaluru custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. But Cameroonian blazed over, much to disappointment of away side fans.

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Bengaluru finished an action-packed half with Chhetri hitting side-netting from close range seconds before whistle. Indian captain, however, was t to be denied 10 minutes after re-start. body picked out Chhetri from a Dimas Delgado corner as he placed a diving header expertly into bottom corner to send home crowd into raptures. That goal broke Kerala Blasters' rhythm as Bengaluru started creating chances galore. y should have scored a second within three minutes of Chhetri's goal when Rehenesh gave away ball cheaply inside his own box. Dimas received ball and took a shot at goal, but Raju Gaikwad blocked it heroically.

Eelco Schattorie sent in Sahal Abdul Samad to change things around and Kerala did have a great chance to equalise. Messi dispossessed Serran and picked out Rahul who sidestepped Nishu Kumar's challenge, but dragged a left-footed effort just wide. But home side continued to find behind Kerala defence. Udanta surged past Jessel Carneiro in 73rd minute and picked out Augusto with a cut-back but latter's first-time shot was brilliantly saved by Rehenesh to keep Kerala in game. Bengaluru, however, saw off rest of game with ease to claim full three points

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