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That's all we have in the Indian Super League and it was enough and well worth it. Coverage brought to you by Nived Zenith, who will be back on Wednesday. Ciao!
The result now means ATK Mohun Bagan maintain their two-point lead over Mumbai City FC at the summit of the table. As such, the race for AFC Champions League qualification is expected to go down to the wire with both sides set to face each other in the last of their three remaining games. Bengaluru climb to sixth and retain the glimmer of hope. What a remarkable joy to watch Sunil Chhetri enjoying his football again, 200 games for Bengaluru FC and 99 goals. Take a bow!
What a game, what a result! Bengaluru FC have dismantled Mumbai City FC at the end of a riveting encounter. Cleiton Silva opened the scoring in 25 seconds and then doubled the advantage after getting on the end of an excellent delivery from Xisco Hernandez. Mumbai City pulled one back through Adam Le Fondre after the interval, but Sunil Chhetri restored the two-goal advantage. Although Le Fondre then completed his brace, Chhetri put the game to bed in stoppage time with a thunderous finish. Six goals, so much entertainment.
PEEEEP! PEEEEEP! PEEEEEEEEEP! FULL TIME: MUMBAI CITY FC 2-4 BENGALURU FC
[90+4'] GOOOOOOOAAAAL, GAME SET AND MATCH! - Sunil Chhetri races through on goal and smashes it past Amrinder and into the top corner. Captain fantastic has bagged a brace on his 200th appearance for the club. In all probability, that is the win sealed for Bengaluru FC. What a result, 4-2!
[90'] SIX MINUTES ADDED ON by the fourth official at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim.
Mumbai City are unable to cause any trouble from the resulting corner-kick. Bengaluru can breathe again for now.
[85'] BRILLIANT SAVE! - Cy Goddard picks up the ball inside the final third for Mumbai City and threads in an inch-perfect through ball for Adam Le Fondre. The striker races towards goal and opens up his body to get the shot away, but Bengaluru custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has denied him the hat-trick with a vital save.
[83'] FOUL, YELLOW CARD! - Edmund Lalrindika lunges in for a challenge and gets nothing on the ball. The Bengaluru youngster receives a booking straightaway from the referee.
[81'] SUBSTITUTION FOR BENGALURU: Cleiton Silva OFF, Edmund Lalrindika ON
[79'] YELLOW CARD! - Ashique Kuruniyan receives a booking from the referee for a foul on Mumbai City defender Amey Ranawade.
[76'] DRINKS BREAK: Mumbai City FC 2-3 Bengaluru FC; We've had three goals in the second half. This promises to be an exciting final 14 minutes plus added time at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim.
Sergio Lobera is urging his players to push on. Mumbai City are expected to go all in to try and find the next goal. Bengaluru will have to prepare for a tough test.
[72'] GOOOOOAAAAL, LE FONDRE AGAIN! - Mumbai City have cut the deficit to just a solitary goal and it is Adam Le Fondre yet again. Cy Goddard found him with a clever dink in between the Bengaluru defenders and Le Fondre sends a looping header beyond the reach of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to find the back of the net. We're all set for a pulsating finish in Bambolim. 3-2 now!
[70'] HEADER STRAIGHT AT GURPREET! - Mourtada Fall peels away from his marker to connect to a corner delivered towards the near post by Cy Goddard. However, the header from the Mumbai City defender is straight at Gurpreet, who holds on firmly to snuff out danger for Bengaluru.
[67'] TIPPED OVER THE BAR! - Cleiton Silva attempts to curl a free-kick into the far top corner, but Mumbai City shot-stopper Amrinder Singh tips the ball just over the cross-bar to deny the Bengaluru forward a hat-trick. The resulting corner-kick is taken too deep by Cleiton and nobody can get on the end of it for Bengaluru.
DOUBLE CHANGE FOR MUMBAI CITY: Bipin Singh and Hernan Santana OFF, Mehtab Singh and Bartholomew Ogbeche ON
[63'] SUBSTITUTION FOR BENGALURU: Xisco Hernandez OFF, Ashique Kuruniyan ON
All the work done by Mumbai City to get back into the game is ruined now. There's still half an hour left, they must work their socks off to try and claw their way back again. 98 goals for Sunil Chhetri in Bengaluru colours, true icon wherever he goes.
[57'] GOOOOAAAAL, CHHETRI FIRES IT HOME! - Gurpreet Singh Sandhu hoofs the ball towards Sunil Chhetri from a goal kick. The Bengaluru forward latches on and with Amrinder Singh racing off his line to try and block him, Chhetri expertly fires it beneath him to retain the two-goal advantage for Bengaluru. What a way to mark his 200th appearance for the club, captain fantastic. 3-1 to Bengaluru!
[52'] YELLOW CARD! - Sunil Chhetri is booked for simulation by the referee after going down inside the Mumbai City penalty area.
[50'] GOOOOOOAAAAL, GAME ON! - Cy Goddard gets in behind on the right flank and squares the ball across goal. Bengaluru defender Harmanjot Khabra is a little slow to react and Adam Le Fondre tucks it away with a neat finish into the far corner. Mumbai City have the goal they were looking for, 2-1!
[46'] PEEEEEEEP! WE'RE BACK LIVE! - Mumbai City FC get us underway in the second half, the Islanders are playing from right to left in their sky blue home kit.
Can Mumbai City bounce back? Live action coming your way on the other side.
PEEEEEP! PEEEEEEEEP! HALF TIME: MUMBAI CITY FC 0-2 BENGALURU FC
[45'] FOUR MINUTES ADDED ON by the fourth official for injuries and stoppages in the first half.
Ahmed Jahouh has crashed the free-kick straight into the Bengaluru wall. It seems to have hit Erik Paartalu quite fiercely and the midfielder is now receiving some attention.
[41'] FOUL, YELLOW CARD! - Ajith Kumar gives the ball away cheaply with a slack back pass and Bipin Singh latches on before racing through on goal. The Mumbai City forward is then clipped by Harmanjot Khabra, who gets a booking straightaway from the referee. Good chance for Mumbai City to try and hi the target from the free-kick.
[37'] GOOD SAVE! - The rebound from a free-kick falls kindly to Mourtada Fall and the Mumbai City defender unleashes a strong shot on goal. However, Bengaluru shot-stopper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is equal to the task and produces an excellent reflex save to punch it over the cross-bar.
Purely a tactical change from Sergio Lobera. The shackles are coming off, Mumbai City want to push forward on all cylinders now.
[35'] SUBSTITUTION FOR MUMBAI CITY: Rowllin Borges OFF, Jackichand Singh ON
[30'] DRINKS BREAK: Mumbai City FC 0-2 Bengaluru FC; Cleiton Silva has netted a brace to put Bengaluru in command at the GMC Stadium. Mumbai City have enjoyed a couple of chances, but both Raynier Fernandes and Adam Le Fondre were unable to tuck it away after being played through on goal.
[29'] FOUL, YELLOW CARD! - The referee has brandished a booking to Bengaluru defender Fran Gonzalez, who went in late on Cy Goddard.
[28'] WHISTLE AGAINST BIPIN! - The Mumbai City winger is deemed to have handled the ball in his attempt to win an aerial duel at the edge of the Bengaluru penalty area.
This is turning out to be picture perfect for Bengaluru. Two good chances missed at the other end by Mumbai City as well. Surely, there could be more goals in this one with plenty of time left.
[22'] GOOOOOOAAL, DOUBLE TROUBLE! - Cleiton Silva has doubled the advantage for Bengaluru from a set-piece. The ball was whipped in perfectly from the right flank and Cleiton peeled away from his marker to bury his header at the near post. Mumbai City are in some serious trouble, 2-0 to Bengaluru!
[20'] GOLDEN TOUCH, BUT CAN'T FINISH! - Ahmed Jahouh releases Adam Le Fondre with a trademark lob from inside the Mumbai City half. The striker brings it down with his chest perfectly and darts inside the penalty area, but his shot has flashed wide of the post. Everything but the finish there.
YELLOW CARD! - Bengaluru full-back Parag Srivas is the first player to get booked on the night after he pulls Adam Le Fondre from behind to stop Mumbai City from breaking free on the counter.
[15'] SHOT PUSHED AWAY! - Sunil Chhetri decides to go for goal from outside the box, but Mumbai City shot-stopper Amrinder is firmly behind the shot and pushes it away with a firm block.
[14'] THE PATTERNS ARE EMERGING! - Mumbai City have seized control of possession. The Islanders are patiently recycling it in the hope of finding an opening to get in behind the Bengaluru defence.
[6'] POOR MISS! - Rowllin Borges releases Raynier Fernandes with an excellent through ball in behind the Bengaluru defence. The midfielder latches on and goes one-on-one with Gurpreet, but he has stabbed his shot wide of the target. Big opening for Mumbai City, but Raynier lacks the composure to tuck it away in the end.
Quite easily one of the fastest goals we've witnessed in the history of the Indian Super League. Mumbai City will know there is plenty of time to turn the tables, but it is indeed a massive challenge now. Especially since the ramifications of this result can have serious impact on their race with ATK Mohun Bagan for AFC Champions League qualification.
[1'] GOOOOOOOAAAAL, ROLLICKING START! - Sunil Chhetri picks the ball up in midfield and races forward before spraying a wonderful pass out wide for Udanta Singh. The Bengaluru winger cuts it back from the byline towards Cleiton Silva, who is stationed inside the six-yard area, and he stabs it home. Mumbai City don't know what hit them, it just took 25 seconds for the opening goal. Bengaluru lead, 1-0!
[1'] PEEEEEEEP! WE'RE UNDERWAY! - Bengaluru FC kick-off proceedings in the first half, they are playing from right to left in their all-white away kit.
Both sets of players disperse after the national anthem and pose for the customary team photo. Captains Amrinder Singh and Sunil Chhetri will now meet for the coin toss.
Now Mumbai City FC follow their counterparts onto the lush green grass in Bambolim, the Islanders are donning their sky blue home kit.
Bengaluru FC are the first team walking out of the tunnel, the Blues are in their all-white away kit for the clash.
LIVE ACTION IMMINENT! - Just about 15 minutes remaining for KICK-OFF at the GMC Stadium. Run along and put the finishing touches on your FANTASY XI.
ASHIQUE ON THE BENCH! - Following his recovery from a facial injury, Ashique Kuruniyan is back on the bench for Bengaluru FC. The likes of Kristian Opseth, Amay Morajkar and Edmund Lalrindika are also present as options among others.
XISCO STARTS! - The Spanish midfielder is making his first start since returning to the club in the January transfer window. In addition to Xisco Hernandez, Parag Srivas is called into defence by Naushad Moosa, while Cleiton Silva also gets a start after missing the last game. Sunil Chhetri is making his 200th appearance for Bengaluru FC tonight, captain fantastic.
Bengaluru FC XI: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK); Parag Srivas, Fran Gonzalez, Ajith Kumar, Harmanjot Khabra, Erik Paartalu, Suresh Wangjam, Cleiton Silva, Udanta Singh, Xisco Hernandez, Sunil Chhetri
Subs: Lalthuammawia Ralte (GK); Wungngayam Muirang, Namgyal Bhutia, Biswa Darjee, Amay Morajkar, Kristian Opseth, Edmund Lalrindika, Ashique Kuruniyan, Naorem Singh
OPTIONS! - Mumbai City have named the likes of Mandar Rao Dessai, Jackichand Singh, Bartholomew Ogbeche and Vikram Pratap Singh among others as substitutes on the bench.
VIGNESH STARTS! - Sergio Lobera has opted to hand an opportunity to Vignesh Dakshinamurthy at left-back. Hugo Boumous is suspended and is replaced by Cy Goddard, who also gets the chance to try and impress.
Mumbai City FC XI: Amrinder Singh (GK); Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall, Hernan Santana, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, Rowllin Borges, Ahmed Jahouh, Cy Goddard, Raynier Fernandes, Bipin Singh, Adam Le Fondre
Subs: Phurba Lachenpa (GK); Mohamad Rakip, Mehtab Singh, Mandar Rao Dessai, Valpuia, Bidyananda Singh, Jackichand Singh, Vikram Pratap Singh, Bartholomew Ogbeche
Bengaluru FC are looking to bounce back after the 2-0 defeat to ATK Mohun Bagan. The Blues have endured a forgetful campaign of sorts and need a win to maintain their little glimmer of hope in terms of qualification to the playoffs. The TEAM NEWS will follow shortly.
Mumbai City were denied a win in the dying embers of their last outing as Ishan Pandita rescued a point for FC Goa in the 3-3 draw. With ATK Mohun Bagan winning yesterday and replacing them at the top of the table, the Islanders need nothing short of three points to regain their control in the race for the league winners shield, which guarantees qualification for the AFC Champions League.
KICK AWAY YOUR MONDAY BLUES! - Time for Indian Super League action and we have a really promising encounter lined up. Mumbai City FC welcome Bengaluru FC at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim. The Islanders have slipped to second in the table and need a win to regain their place at the summit. IT IS FOOTY TIME!