BENGALURU: After two dull days in the Indian Super League’s fourth edition, Sunday was the day for the forwards. The matchday started with FC Goa beating Chennayin FC 3-2 and then, new entrants Bengaluru FC joined the party with a 2-0 victory over Mumbai City FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here. Edu Garcia and skipper Sunil Chhetri scored. With the amount of time and energy invested in scripting Bengaluru’s success story, the Federation Cup champions were expected to maintain their level of consistency in a more competitive ISL.
However, at a first glance, it looked like the same BFC side that failed to convert chances in the last I-League. BFC failed to find the net in the first-half, with as many as five chances going abegging, and the best one coming in the 43rd minute. Chhetri cleverly fed Udanta on the right and the speedster found himself one-onone with MCFC custodian Amrinder Singh. But he decided to cross it rather than taking a shot, only to see MCFC’s Brazilian defender Marcio Rozario clear the ball. However, things changed in the second-half with BFC settling in possession.
On the counter, they were a threat every time, with Miku, Chhetri and Udanta creating problems for opponent defenders. But the Blues finally got the better of the opposition rearguard in the 67th minute. Former Real Zaragoza man Garcia scored at the near post. After playing a short corner to Udanta, Garcia received the ball back and beat Amrinder with a powerful shot. The visitors were, however, nowhere close to their best.
Last year’s table- toppers were without any star name for the first time and appeared toothless. They failed to test BFC goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu despite pressing hard in the second period. For Albert Roca’s men, it is the start they hope to carry on. Despite slow start, their midfielders and defenders gradually grew in stature to support the attackers. BFC’s backline held on well, with their custodian Gurpreet largely untroubled, and on the counter the hosts left MCFC reeling.
krishnendu@newindianexpress.com