Star striker Sunil Chhetri’s late strike in its place helped Bengaluru FC register a 1-0 win over Mumbai City FC within the Indian Super League (ISL) semi-final first leg right here on Tuesday.
Chhetri’s 78th minute purpose gave the Blues a significant lead forward of the second leg in Bengaluru on Sunday.
As they’ve all season, the Islanders had been as soon as once more the workforce that dominated possession and created extra scoring probabilities than their opponents.
In the second minute, Greg Stewart set the tempo on the appropriate with a low cross again into the field for Bipin Singh, whose shot was blocked by Prabir Das. The defender was known as into motion once more after simply ten minutes to disclaim Lalengmawia Ralte and Jorge Diaz after a one-two.
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At the opposite finish of the pitch, Roshan Naorem’s by way of ball went previous Murtada Fall, however Phurba Lachenpa obtained down and obtained to the ball earlier than Roy Krishna might do the harm, and that was just about the Blues’ penchant for the primary half .
With solely 5 minutes from the break, Stewart despatched Diaz by way of on purpose with a defence-splitting move from the sting of the field. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was fast to get off the road to thwart the Argentine striker because the deadlock continued on the break.
Before the hour mark, Bengaluru FC introduced on Chhetri to interchange Sivasakthi Narayanan, and the skilled India skipper made the distinction for his workforce for the second recreation in a row.
In the ultimate quarter of the sport, the impasse was damaged by the guests, moments after Das’s long-range effort hit the bar for a nook. Chhetri escaped his marker and made his method in direction of the close to put up, the place he headed in Roshan’s nook to attain an important purpose for his workforce.
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Bengaluru FC had been then the facet that created the stronger probabilities because the hosts had been resigned to play exterior the field by a disciplined defence. Chhetri was once more on the forefront, forcing Lachenpa to make two saves.
One of these stoppages was within the final minute of time, as Bengaluru FC broke by way of within the remaining third to create a 3-vs-2 scenario because the ball got here to an unmarked Chhetri. He went on to attain on the close to put up however Lachampa was alert to maintain Bengaluru FC’s benefit all the way down to a much less intimidating stage forward of the second leg.
The Blues ultimately took a slim benefit, extending their successful streak within the ISL to 10 video games.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
