Bengaluru FC 2-1 FC Goa: 3 Reasons Why the defending champions won

Bengaluru FC scraped past FC Goa 2-1 in an entertaining encounter at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. The victory meant that the hosts catapulted themselves into 2nd on the ISL table, just a couple of points behind the Gaurs.

The match began at a frenetic tempo with both sides looking to put the other under strife. However, the visitors settled into their rhythm earlier, meaning that they created a host of opportunities in the first half. Yet, despite weaving pretty patterns, they were unable to stitch together an end product, thereby leading to a goal-less opening period.

After the restart, Bengaluru looked a better outfit and they lent weight to that notion when Sunil Chhetri headed home from a corner, just before the hour mark. However, the hosts’ lead lasted just a couple of minutes as Hugo Boumous quickly restored parity after some neat inter-play with Coro.

The defending champions though had the final say as Chhetri wonderfully dovetailed his run with Ashique Kuruniyan’s pass to caress the ball into the back of the net in the 84th minute.

Here is a look at three reasons by the Blues posted a victory.

#3 Bengaluru portray a clinical edge in attack

Sunil Chhetri showcased the clinical edge in the final third

Before the encounter began, Bengaluru FC had made the net ripple only 11 times in 10 previous matches, thereby averaging just a touch over a goal a game. Subsequently, their offensive prowess had been questioned with several remarking that their failure to find a replacement for Miku directly correlated to their insipidness.

Unsurprisingly, they’ve had to rely on set-pieces for goals and that particular propensity came to the fore against Goa as well. A minute before the hour mark, Chhetri rose highest in the box to power home the opener as the Gaurs were left ruing the number of chances they had created prior to the goal.

Though the visitors equalized thereafter and tried to impose themselves again, they were caught out by the proverbial sucker punch when Chhetri pounced on Ashique’s through-ball to clinically finish past the keeper.

Thus, over the course of the game, Bengaluru FC had showcased the characteristics that had enabled them to emerge champions last term. At times, they were put under the cosh, yet, they failed to baulk at that particular prospect, meaning that they bided their time before denting the opposition.

And, while there still remain a few flaws that need ironing out, maybe the victory against a potential title rival could act as the catalyst for a more free-flowing second half of the season.

#2 Goa fail to capitalize on Hugo Boumous’ brilliance

The Frenchman has been in sparkling form for the Gaurs in the 2019-20 campaign, meaning that he has permanently consigned Edu Bedia to the bench. And, on Friday, Boumous was at his irresistible best as he orchestrated the visitors’ attacking play and injected the side with the requisite offensive impetus.

From the outset, the midfielder was a bundle of energy as he kept roaming across the pitch and kept finding himself in space. Subsequently, he either drove at the hosts’ defence or waited for his teammates to provide the adequate support before picking them out.

Throughout the encounter, he glided past his marker as the likes of Dimas Delgado, Erik Paartalu and Harmanjot Khabra found it tough to contain the Frenchman. Boumous even capped off his performance with a well-taken goal.

Apart from the midfielder though, the away side were quite wasteful as they passed up a host of chances, a trait that ultimately allowed Bengaluru to claw back into the encounter.

Jackichand Singh was guilty of spurning a couple of gilt-edged opportunities whereas Lenny Rodrigues also failed to control an exquisite through-ball by Brandon Fernandes in the first half.

Moreover, Mohammad Nawaz let his side down when called upon as he was culpable for both goals. While Chhetri’s header squirmed under him for the equalizer, he allowed the Indian skipper too much room at the near post, thereby allowing the forward to slot the ball past him.

Thus, Goa had somehow managed to undo their excellent work in the first half; a period where they controlled proceedings and completely put Bengaluru to the sword.

And, rather uncharacteristically, they failed to capitalize on their dominance, meaning that the hosts eventually edged past the visitors.

#1 Sunil Chhetri saves the day, yet again

Over the past few seasons, Sunil Chhetri has etched his name into Indian footballing folklore, courtesy his exploits with the national side and of course, Bengaluru FC.

Consequently, there have been numerous instances when the Indian skipper has come up trumps, especially when the chips have been down. And, Friday was no different as the forward chipped in with a brace, meaning that Bengaluru emerged from the rubble with a win.

For large swathes of the contest, the hosts looked second best as Goa asserted their passing identity on the match. In fact, the defending champions turned in a timid first half display, thereby allowing the visitors the wind they required in their sails.

Yet, when the Gaurs started to cast themselves in the ascendancy after the break, Chhetri morphed into Bengaluru’s Guardian Angel to thwart the away side and script another memorable victory.

In the 59th minute, the Indian darted late into the box off a corner from the left side and thumped his header into the back of the net.

25 minutes later, the hosts sprung a swift counter attack after defending a set-piece. The ball found its way to Ashique near the half-way line, where the winger held off a couple of challenges before playing the ball into the path of the onrushing Chhetri.

The Bengaluru captain took the ball in his stride and coolly laced the ball past Nawaz as the Kanteerava Stadium erupted into a rapturous applause.

Thus, through the course of another encounter, Chhetri had just emphasized his importance to Bengaluru FC. And, by single-handedly altering the narrative of a game that seemed beyond the hosts on occasions, he ensured that they started off the decade in the best possible manner.