Bengaluru FC finally break their Kolkata Jinx as they defeat East Bengal FC 1-0 in an away game at Barasat Stadium. Indian National team skipper, Sunil Chhetri scored the only goal of the match.
The Red & Gold Coach, Biswajit Bhattacharya made three changes to the starting XI who played against DSK Shivajians. Shamad Ali, Narayan Das and Joaquim Abranches earning the call up. Shaumik Dey had to miss the game due to an injury, where as Rahul Bheke and Abhinas Ruidas were benched.
Ashley Westwood, who tasted his first defeat against Mumbai FC last week, made as many as four changes to his starting XI. Amrinder Singh earned his first start of the season for Bengaluru FC. Eugeneson Lyngdoh, who picked up an injury in his last match was replaced by Thoi Singh while CK Vineeth and Alwyn George made way for Malsawmzuala and Len Doungel.
The Blues got off to a rocking start and had a goal scoring oppurtunity in the 5th minute itself. A John Johnson long ball found Kim Seong Yong in the box with only Rehneesh to beat, but the linesman called off side much to the relief of East Bengal's players.
Former Atletico de Kolkata mid fielder, Mohammed Rafique's cross almost found Ranti Martins into the box but Amrinder Singh's quick reaction denied any celebrations to the Red & Golds.
Into the second quarter of the match, Mehtab Hossain's found Joaquim Abranches in the box but his shot was deflected off Curtis Osano and earning his team a corner. Mehtab's corner kick created lot of trouble for the oppostion but the Blues defence stood strong and thwarted the danger.
Len Doungel created a couple of goal scoring oppurtunity for the Blues from the right flank. In the 37th minute, he cut in from the right and took a shot but it went wide of the goal. Two minutes later, he made a similar run from the right flank and laid it to Kim just out of the box, but this shot too went wide.
Two minutes into the Second half and Sunil Chhetri ran down the left flank and chipped in a cross but couldn't get past opposition custodian, TP Rehneesh. Do Dong Hyun also made a run into the Blues box and had only Amrinder Singh to beat, but a timely tackle by Chhuantea denied the South Korean his first goal of Hero I-League.
Bengaluru FC came very close to score a goal in the 52nd minute when Shankar Sampangiraj made a delightful run to get pass all his markers in the box and passed to Sunil Chhetri who took a shot without breaking his stride. But TP Rehneesh's timely intervation denied them a goal.
Do Dong's free-kick from 30 yard was spot on but Amrinder Singh dived to his left to save it and followed up with saving Abranches shot on rebound.
The deadlock was finally broken at the half hour mark when Rino Anto made an over lapping run down the right flank and looped to Chhetri who gently tapped it in to give his side the lead.
Do Dong made a couple of runs down on the right flank looking for an equalizer for his time but each time the Blues defence blocked everything that came in their way.
East Bengal came agonizingly close of scoring an equalizer in the 80th minute, when Bikash Jairu made a run outside the box and playing it to Ranti on the right but his shot was palmed away by Amrinder Singh with ball landing in front of Jairu. The Indian International could only shoot straight at Amrinder Singh and wasting the chance.
Bengaluru FC kept their defence rock solid and thwarted any attacks that East Bengal could muster up and ended the match with a scoreline of 1-0, earning them their first win against the Red & Gold.
This win helps the Blues to consolidate their position on the top with 12 points in 5 games. Mohun Bagan are 2nd with 10 points but have played one game less. They now travel back home, where they will face Sporting Clube de Goa on 6th February.
East Bengal on the other hand have dropped to 4th position with 8 points after 5 games. They will host Aizawl FC on 5th February in their next game.
