BENGALURU:Bengaluru FC were in desperate need of a win to revive their lost form. And finally, a dominant second-half show from the Blues saw them claim a crucial 2-1 win over Mohun Bagan in their AFC Cup Group E opener at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Tuesday.
72 hours ago, Bagan, despite putting up a dominating show were denied a win. But on Tuesday, it was a tale of two halves. Bagan dominated the first half proceedings with Sony Norde, Yusa Katsumi and Balwant Singh combining well to create a plethora of chances and it paid off. In the 35th minute, Norde was brought down by Sandesh Jhingan inside the box. Referee had no hesitation to point to the spot and Katsumi calmly converted the penalty.The second half was all about BFC and they looked like the champions they once were. They pressed high and combined well after Eugnenson Lyngdoh was introduced in the beginning of the second half. After a patchy run in the last few games, Lyngdoh proved to be the lynchpin of the hosts’ attack. Bagan were forced to play defensive. In the 51st minute, following a Cameron Watson corner, Shilton Paul poorly cleared the ball and Sandesh Jhingan put it in to level the scoreline.
And then it was all about BFC after Katsumi was stretchered off. Bagan looked fatigued in the second half and the men in blue capitalised. They sat deep and failed to create chances. Six minutes later, BFC were awarded a freekick on the edge of the box as Paul carried the ball out of the box following a corner. BFC skipper Sunil Chhetri calmly converted the set piece to earn his side a much needed win.
BFC coach Albert Roca lauded his side’s second-half performance and said the win would revive the side after the international break. “It was a tough game against Bagan. For sure, the win will help us. My team has shown the spirit not to surrender and I am proud of them and so are the supporters. This victory was much needed and it has come at the right time before the break,” Roca said.
Chhetri said the win would really help but playing better and dominating the game would work better. “Winning really helps. But we were not worried about winning the game. We played well and apart from few games we were never dominated. So it will help us regain our confidence.”
Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen felt Katsumi’s substitution damaged his side’s stability but he was not worried. “We could have wrapped up the game in the first half. But Jeje’s (Lalpekhlua) miss proved crucial. Then, Katsumi and Subhasish’s injury killed the pace and we just soaked in the pressure and couldn’t create chances. But we still have five matches to go and we can reorganise and come back,” said Sen.
krishnendu@newindianexpress.com