ISL: FC Goa’s second half blitz hand Bengaluru FC first defeat of season
A second-half flourish from Manolo Marquez's men saw Bengaluru FC taste defeat for the first time in the ongoing season.
Bengaluru FC on Friday edged past FC Goa with a 2-1 scoreline in their Indian Super League (ISL) encounter at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
It was Blues’ skipper Sunil Chettri, who was the difference between the two sides.
After a goalless first-half that the visitors dominated, Bengaluru took the lead through Chhetri. Goa equalised through Hugo Boumous within two minutes of the goal, but Chhetri’s late goal sealed Bengaluru’s fifth win in seven ISL games against Goa.
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With the win, Bengaluru rise to the second spot having 19 points from 11 games, just two shy of FC Goa who continue to top the table.
They were the visitors who saw more of the ball and looked likely to create an opening, however, both the sides ended the first half without any goal.
After the break, the hosts started to claw their way back into the game as the tempo of the game picked up. In the 59th minute, Chhetri was left unmarked as Dimas Delgado picked him out from a corner. His powerful header was let in by Mohammad Nawaz who could not get down in time to keep the ball out.
However, Goa hit back within two minutes. Boumous took matters into his own hands with a driving run down the left before exchanging passes with Mandar and Ferran Corominas. A deft touch from Corominas sent Boumous bearing down on goal and he finished with aplomb to make it 1-1.
However, Chhetri grabbed the winner in the 83rd minute after the Gaurs failed to clear their lines during a Bengaluru counter. After both Seriton Fernandes and Mandar failed to clear a pass from the deep, Chhetri pounced and raced away before tucking a neat finish past Nawaz to seal all three points for the home team.
Bengaluru play their next game against Jamshedpur on January 9, whereas Goa face NorthEast United a day before.
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