ISL 2018-19: Bengaluru FC vs NorthEast United FC - Hits and Flops as BFC get back to winning ways

Bengaluru FC moved on from their disappointing 0-1 defeat to Mumbai City FC and clinched three points from their Indian Super League (ISL) game against NorthEast United FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday.

After Udanta Singh assisted the own goal by Mislav Komorski in the 14th minute, NorthEast United found an equaliser through Federico Gallego at the hour mark.

However, Chencho Gyeltshen struck 11 minutes later to gift BFC the three points and send them on top of the table again.

BFC have 30 points in 13 games with Mumbai City three behind. NorthEast remain third with 23 points in 14 games but could be overtaken by FC Goa, who have played 2 games less and are only 2 points behind.

NorthEast came in with the best away record, having bagged 16 points from their 6 away games. BFC had the second-best home form, where they bagged 14 points. The 2-1 win might have just improved that.

Here are the players who made the headlines -

Hit - Chencho Gyeltshen (Bengaluru FC)

Chencho Gyeltshen of Bengaluru FC wheels away after scoring against NorthEast United

He scored once before and he has scored again now.

Chencho Gyeltshen, who scored a vital equaliser through an overhead kick in the reverse fixture in Guwahati, struck the winner at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday for his first goal at home.

Chencho was brought on only in the 54th minute for winger Kean Lewis and he was expected to be an impact substitute like last time.

It took about 15 minutes to settle down but there was enough time for him to pump in the winner.

Off a long throw taken by Rahul Bheke, which was dropped into the box, Juanan Gonzalez stood tall and glanced it back.

Chencho was all by himself in the far side but he had to stretch out to fire it into the goal, past TP Rehenesh.

Chencho had a chance to give BFC a two-goal cushion a minute after he gave them the lead.

He combined well with Rahul Bheke to find himself alone in the box and he brought down the ball with a ninja-style kick. However, the NEUFC defence rushed into him and parried away the opportunity.

Immediately after, Erik Paartalu played a ball through Chencho's marker and the Bhutanese forward was in a dangerous spot near the left post. He tried to play it to Sunil Chhetri but ran into a couple of defenders.

Flop - Panagiotis Triadis (NorthEast United)

A lot was expected from the NorthEast United's new Greek signing. He came on in the second half for Mislav Komorski but had little to show off.

Triadis could have scored NorthEast's potential winner in the 68th minute but he screwed up the chance big time.

Breaking the offside trap, Triadis had only the goalkeeper to beat but he could find the back of the net. Had he scored at this juncture, NEUFC would have gained the momentum and stayed in the game. Soon after his miss, Chencho Gyeltshen found the winner for Bengaluru FC and ensured the three points for the hosts.

Hit - Udanta Singh (Bengaluru FC)

The pacey Bengaluru FC winger was a livewire at the right flank for NorthEast United.

He was always a threat for the Highlanders whenever BFC decided to break on the counter and had his hand in BFC's opening goal of the match.

It was Udanta who won the free-kick that led to the goal when he was emphatically stopped from gushing forward by the NEUFC defenders down the right flank.

Bengaluru FC managed a smart set-piece routine which saw Dimas Delgado play a short ball to Sunil Chhetri, who rushed out from the crowd.

Chhetri's smart flick flowed towards Udanta near the right post and the Manipuri winger powered in a cross into the box, which was deflected into the back of the net by Mislav Komorski.

Udanta tried to work out something similar in the 33rd minute. He played a similar pass to Chhetri from the same spot but the BFC captain could not tuck it in.

Udanta also got the better of his markers couple of times in the game, helping BFC break on the counter.

In the dying minutes, he kept up to his defensive duties with a sliding tackle on Redeem Tlang.

Hit - Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC)

The Bengaluru FC goalkeeper pulled off many saves throughout the game against NorthEast United.

He gloved a few dangerous crosses away from set-pieces and open play by charging out of his position and diving into the crowd.

In the 38th minute, he pulled off an important save which prevented NEUFC from equalising. Off a corner, Mato Grgic was given a free header but Gurpreet tipped it over the bar with some acrobatic glove work.

In the 65th minute, Gurpreet covered his near post well to deny Ogbeche in a one-on-one situation.

Ogbeche easily rummaged through Serran to zig-zag his way into the box and poked at the near post but Gurpreet dragged his foot out and pushed the ball away for a corner.

The most important save came in the 68th minute which probably proves why Gurpreet is the best goalkeeper in the country.

Panagiotis Triadis was sent through with a chipped through-ball and the Greek midfielder was onside. He was all by himself in the penalty box and even had a couple of seconds to choose his spot. He chose to slot it into the bottom-right corner but Gurpreet pulled off a point-blank save and kept BFC in the game.

In the dying minutes, Gurpreet's outstretched save to deny Juan Mascia gave them the three points from the game.

Flop - Federico Gallego (NorthEast United)

In the first half, Bartholomew Ogbeche took the entire responsibility of finding the goal for NorthEast United. NEUFC mostly hit BFC back on the counter and even though Ogbeche's pace was better than that of Serran, the NEUFC captain was unable to find a pass in the box or take a decent shot that would test Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Federico Gallego had to catch up to the striker.

In the second half, NEUFC were a real threat during the set pieces. And it took Gallego only one such free-kick to score the equaliser for NEUFC.

With a couple of the BFC defenders distracted by Ogbeche, Gallego broke free. He powered his way through the left side of the box and slotted past the goalkeeper for a well-deserved equaliser.

That apart, Gallego's corner kicks were always a threat to BFC. In the first half, Gallego dropped the ball into the centre of the box with Gurpreet denying Mato Grgc a goal.

He got into unnecessary scuffles with the BFC players and even the coaching staff - the frustration was clear.

Gallego played right behind Ogbeche and had a few defensive duties to stick to. Had be been given a more attacking role, perhaps Gallego could have done more.

Edited by Kingshuk Kusari