I-League 2015/16: Chhetri's strike helps Bengaluru edge East Bengal
A 60th minute strike from captain Sunil Chhetri proved to be the difference between the teams as Bengaluru FC beat East Bengal 1-0 to increase their lead on the top to four points at the table at the Barasat District Sports Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday.
Starting Lineups:
East Bengal: Rehenesh T.P.(GK), Samad, Arnab(C), Rassaq, Narayan, Mehtab, Rafique, Joaquim Abranches, Dong-Hyun, Jairu, Martins
Bengaluru FC: Amrinder(GK), Rino Anto, Osano, Johnson, Lalchuanmawwia, Thoi, Sampingiraj, Kim Song Yong, Malsawmzuala, Chhetri(C), Seminlen Doungel
After earning a 1-0 win over DSK Shivajians in their first home match last Tuesday, East Bengal made three changes to their lineup for the top of the table clash against Bengaluru FC. Rahul Bheke, Saumik Dey and Abhinash Ruidas made way for Narayan Das, Samad Ali and Abranches as Biswajit Bhattacharya lined up his team in 4-2-3-1 formation, with Do Dong-Hyun playing behind Ranti Martins in the attack.
Bengaluru, on the other hand, made four changes to the team that suffered a 0-2 loss away to Mumbai FC on Wednesday and brought in Amrinder Singh, Thoi Singh, Malsawmzuala, Seminlen Doungel for Ralte, Vineeth, Lyngdoh and Alwyn George. Ashley Westwood also stuck to his favourite 4-2-3-1 formation with Thoi, Doungel and Chhetri behind Kim Song Yong in the attack.
With both teams employing a cautious approach, the match got off to a slow start with lots of rough tackles and silly fouls stopping the game. A flurry of set pieces shaded the momentum in favour of the Fed Cup champions even as East Bengal goalie Rehenesh and left back Samad entered the referee’s books. As the match progressed, East Bengal slowly found their rhythm with Ranti Martins and Do Dong-Hyun creating a couple of half chances near the Bengaluru goal.
Amrinder Singh, who was making his debut for the Bengaluru team, kept a steady head in the dying minutes of the first half to save shots from Ranti Martins and Joaquim Abranches as both teams wentlocked at 0-0.
Bengaluru had a much better start to the second half with captain Sunil Chhetri almost putting them ahead in the 52nd minute. A pin-point cross from Shankar Sampingiraj found the striker in the box, but a shot from Chhetri was expertly kept out by Rehenesh to keep it deadlocked. At the other end, Amrinder Singh also kept out East Bengal with a double save – first by denying a Do Dong-Hyun free kick and then keeping out Abranches off the rebound.
The 2013/14 I-League champions finally broke the deadlock near the hour mark with captain Sunil Chhetri putting them ahead. Right back Rino Anto’s accurate cross into the middle found Chhetri in space, and the forward guided the ball into the net beating Rehenesh in the goal. The goal opened the game up with Biswajit Bhattacharya pushing the team forward in search of the equalizer.
With the match drifting towards a 1-0 win for the Bengaluru team, Bikash Jairu wasted a golden opportunity to level things up in the game. Ranti Martins’ cut-back from the right was palmed by Amrinder into the path of an onrushing Jairu, but the winger’s effort went inches wide of the near post to end East Bengal’s hope of an equalizer. Bengaluru sat back and consumed the East Bengal attacks in the last minute to edge the match 1-0 to solidify their position at the top.
With the win, Bengaluru have extended their lead at the top of the table to four points and will next face Sporting Clube de Goa on February 6 at Bangalore. However, East Bengal slipped down to third place on goal difference and will next face Aizawl FC on February 5 at Kolkata.