Faridabad , Jantantra Today / Chennai, May 16, 2026 :——
Chennaiyin FC concluded their Indian Super League 2026 season with a narrow home defeat to Bengaluru FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday evening.
For his final starting XI of the season, head coach Clifford Rayes Miranda rang in a host of changes. Eduardo Kau and Ankit Mukherjee came into the defence alongside PC Laldinpuia and Mandar Rao Dessai ahead of Mohammad Nawaz. Jitendra Singh partnered Lalrinliana Hnamte in midfield, while Irfan Yadwad, Maheson Singh, and Farukh Choudhary operated behind striker Daniel Chima Chukwu.
Bengaluru controlled much of the early possession, moving the ball patiently as Chennaiyin stayed organised at the back. Irfan registered Chennaiyin’s first attempt of the evening, while Nawaz was forced into an early save inside the opening minutes. As the half wore on, the Marina Machans settled into the game and began finding more joy in possession.
The breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute through an excellent move from front to back. Chima sparked the attack by regaining possession high up the pitch before Farukh picked up the ball on the left wing. The forward then released Mandar on the overlap, and the fullback delivered a teasing low cross into the danger area, where Chima arrived to convert from close range and give Chennaiyin the lead.
Bengaluru responded before the break, though, as Ryan Williams timed his run perfectly to latch onto a through ball before finishing calmly beyond Nawaz to restore parity.
Chennaiyin started the second half positively and almost reclaimed the advantage when Farukh struck fiercely at goal after a loose ball inside the area, only for the shot to ricochet off Chima and behind. Bengaluru continued to create openings in the latter stages, but Chennaiyin remained resilient, with Nawaz producing an excellent close-range stop midway through the half to keep the scores level.
With both sides introducing fresh legs late on, Bengaluru eventually found the decisive breakthrough in the closing moments. Substitute Serto Worneilen Kom struck in the 89th minute, handing the visitors all three points and bringing Chennaiyin’s campaign to a close.
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