I-League 2015/16: Chhetri’s brace helps Bengaluru fightback to a draw against 10-man Sporting

Starting Lineups:

Sporting Clube de Goa: Arindam(GK), Clemente, Bose, Loveday, Mascarenhas, Cardozo, Martins, Borges, Amna, Seriton, Odafa(C)

Bengaluru FC: Mawia(GK), Rino, Johnson, Osano, Chhauntea, Collins, Hangal, Thoi, Udanta, Kim, Chhetri(C)

Having stunned the 2013/14 I-League Champions in their own backyard in the previous meeting between the two, Sporting Clube de Goa went into the match against Bengaluru FC in search of another upset. The Flaming Oranje had also held defending champions Mohun Bagan to a 1-1 draw in their last match midweek and looked to be on an upward spiral having climbed up to fourth in the table.

On the other hand, Bengaluru had somewhat revived their title challenge after the 0-2 loss to Mohun Bagan in early February. Wins over Aizawl and Shillong had helped them cut down Mohun Bagan’s lead at the top to one point and they arrived at Goa hoping for three points against Sporting to reclaim the top spot.

However, Ashley Westwood’s plans of a return to the top spot went up in smokes in the 19th minute after a back pass from Lalchhuanmawia paved an easy chance for Marcus Mascarenhas. The winger closed in on the goalkeeper and smashed the ball past him with a deflection leaving Lalthuammawia Ralte with no chance. Sporting skipper Odafa, who single-handedly destroyed Bengaluru last time, doubled his team’s tally in the 38th minute with a curling shot. The lanky forward almost strolled for 20 yards before picking his spot and curling it in past Lalthuammawia Ralte.

Trailing 2-0, Bengaluru was looking down the barrel, but skipper Sunil Chhetri brought his team back into the game by converting from the spot in the 43rd minute. The referee signalled to the spot after Loveday fouled Johnson in the box, and Chhetri calmly slotted it past Arindam to pull one back for the Bengalruru side. It went from bad to worse for the home side as the half ended after Loveday received a second yellow card for fouling Udanta Singh.

With Sporting down to ten men, Bengaluru were in the ascendancy for most of the second half and found the equalizer in the 67th minute with skipper Sunil Chhetri once again the scorer. A cross from the right found Chhetri in the box, and the strike skilfully tapped it into the empty net to level things at the Fatorda.

Although, Bengaluru tried hard in the last ten minutes to find the winning goal, Sporting held their defence tight to share the points.