Calcutta: On paper, Bengaluru FC (BFC) were certainly the favourites, but they were held to a barren draw by FC Pune City in the first leg semi-final of ISL IV in Pune on Wednesday.

But the good thing for BFC is that the return-leg encounter will be played at their den where they can go out all guns blazing. However, Pune City will know that they have a chance as well on March 11, as they need only a draw to go through to the final with the away-goal rule in operation in the last-four stage. Pune City certainly measured up to the challenge till the final whistle, denying the visitors the crucial away goal.

After letting the home team dominate possession in the first quarter, BFC slowly began to get into their groove. At the half-hour mark, Sunil Chetri tested Pune City goalkeeper Vishal Kaith's agility from a free-kick.