Bengaluru, 28 September:
Bengaluru FC added momentum to their charge in the Indian Super League with a convincing 3-0 win over Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Saturday. Goals from Edgar Mendez, Suresh Wangjam and Sunil Chhetri gave the Blues three points, taking them back to the top of the ISL charts.
Bengaluru Head Coach Gerard Zaragoza made two changes to the side that took on Hyderabad FC as defender Aleksandar Jovanovic returned to replace Chinglensana Singh while skipper Sunil Chhetri was preferred ahead of Argentine attacker Jorge Pereyra Diaz. Meanwhile, the visitors made two changes of their own ahead of this fixture with Jason Cummings and Abhishek Suryavanshi picked ahead of Liston Colaco and Anirudh Thapa.
Bengaluru raced into an early lead from a set-piece when Nikhil Poojary’s header into a dangerous area fell for Mendez to slot home from close range after Alberto Noguera’s take from a corner. Zaragoza’s men continued to pile on the pressure, pushing forward in numbers and doubling their lead just 10 minutes later through Suresh Wangjam, with Mendez this time the provider.
Finding himself in a pocket of space in the box, the Spaniard was played with his back to goal, who drove in a powerful cross which came off Chhetri and it fell kindly for Wangjam, who slotted home with aplomb, before celebrating in front of the West Block. Bengaluru continued to keep most of the possession and saw the first half through without fuss.
Into the second period, Zaragoza rang in his first change as Vinith Venkatesh was withdrawn to be replaced by Rohit Danu. It didn’t take long for the Blues to extend their lead, with Mendez in the thick of things yet again. The Blues’ no. 17 was hauled down in the box by Dipendu Biswas, prompting referee Aditya Purkayastha to point to the spot. Chhetri stepped up and slotted home to make it 3-0 on the night with just over 50 minutes on the clock.
Chhetri’s goal also marked a historic moment, as it took him to the top of the Indian Super League’s goalscoring charts with 64 goals, taking him ahead of Bartholomew Ogbeche, in 158 games.
The visitors had chances of their own, as Jason Cummings and Manvir Singh combined in the final third, but they were met with stubborn defending from the Blues’ backline. Bengaluru made further changes, as Sana and Lalremtluanga Fanai took the field.
Bengaluru saw the game through to the end, and will travel to Mumbai next for their first away fixture of the campaign against Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri, on October 2nd.
