I-League: Gutsy Chennai deny Bengaluru elusive away win

Chennai [India], Mar.9 (ANI): Chennai City FC settled for a 1-1 draw against Bengaluru FC in the round thirteen I-League clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium last evening. An own goal by John Johnson (53') gave Chennai City an unexpected lead before Daniel Lalhlimpuia (58') levelled the scoreline from an inch-perfect cross by Udanta Singh. Chennai City decided to pull out a few surprises by making three changes to the team that drew against DSK Shivajians. Marcos Vinicius, Joseph Clemente and Haroon Amiri were benched to make ways for Soosai Raj, Abhishek Das and Raegan Albarnas. Bengaluru FC made a couple of changes to the team that edged out Minerva Punjab in Ludhiana. Roca brought in Mandar Rao Dessai and Daniel Lalhlimpuia for CK Vineeth and Marjan Jugovic. The game started at breakneck speed with Bengaluru fashioning a couple of early opportunities. Udanta and Chhetri combined well before the Indian skipper laid the ball off for Mandar who had a clear shot at goal but Echezona came up with a brilliant block to divert the ball for a corner. Immediately after, Udanta sent in another cross which found Daniel inside the six-yard box. But before the youngster could sort his feet out, Echezona stole the ball away. The pattern of the game remained the same with Chennai holding off wave after wave of Bengaluru attacks. Chennai City, who were under the cosh for most of the initial quarter of the match, slowly started gaining a foothold in the match and fashioned their first chance on the counter in the 26th minute through Charles who made the chance by outrunning Juanan and Nishu on a breakaway and squared the ball for Raegan who was a bit early into the box and couldn't meet it.(ANI)