Bengaluru, Feb 25 (Reporter) Chennaiyin FC suffered a 1-0 defeat against Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Tuesday in their final away fixture of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season, officially ending their playoff aspirations. The Marina Machans, needing a win to stay in contention, were undone by a 37th-minute volley from Rahul Bheke, which proved to be the difference. With two matches remaining in the campaign, the loss mathematically eliminates them from the playoff race. Head coach Owen Coyle made a solitary change to the side that defeated East Bengal in their previous encounter, with Farukh Choudhary replacing the outgoing Kiyan Nassiri. Elsinho and Ryan Edwards continued to marshal the defence, while Wilmar Jordan Gil led the attack. Chennaiyin began aggressively, applying early pressure on the home side’s defence. Their first significant chance arrived three minutes before the half-hour mark when Irfan Yadwad forced Bengaluru custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into a save from a tight angle. Moments later, Jordan Gil failed to convert a Connor Shields cross, missing a crucial opportunity. Bengaluru took the lead when Bheke capitalised on a set-piece, volleying past Mohammad Nawaz. Chennaiyin responded instantly, with Jordan Gil testing Sandhu with a powerful long-range strike. The Colombian forward came close again, heading narrowly wide from another Shields cross. Post-interval, Chennaiyin pressed for an equaliser while Nawaz kept them in the game with crucial saves in the 56th and 71st minutes. Coach Coyle introduced striker Daniel Chima Chukwu in a bid to find a breakthrough, with the Nigerian forward troubling the Bengaluru defence upon his arrival. However, his close-range effort was blocked, and a subsequent attempt from Irfan Yadwad’s pass was stifled by tight marking. Substitute Lukas Brambilla nearly salvaged a point for Chennaiyin with a volley in the 90th minute, but his attempt found the side-netting. With their away campaign concluded, Chennaiyin FC will return to the Marina Arena for their final two fixtures against NorthEast United on March 3 and Jamshedpur FC on March 9, aiming to end their season on a high note...////...