Kolkata: Liston Colaco’s 74th-minute strike helped Mohun Bagan Super Giant secure a 1-0 win over Bengaluru in a tightly-contested Indian Super League tie at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Monday. The Blues put in a good display and showed defensive solidity while creating a host of chances but were undone by a moment of brilliance by the 26-year-old.
Bengaluru FC Head Coach Gerard Zaragoza made three changes to the side that faced Odisha last week. Rahul Bheke returned from suspension to fill in for Aleksandar Jovanovic at centre-back, Nikhil Poojary started in place of Mohamed Salah, and Pedro Capo replaced Lalremtluanga Fanai in midfield.
For the Mariners, Dippendu Biswas filled in for the suspended Asish Rai, while Jamie Maclaren, Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh came in for Dimitri Petratos, Abhishek Suryavanshi and Suhail Bhat.
The contest got off to a sedate opening, as both well-marshalled back-lines sat compact. The Blues created the early openings, with Sunil Chhetri testing Vishal Kaith with a shot from distance. The game opened up post the 20th minute, allowing both sets of full-backs to push on forward and support the attack.
Ryan Williams shot straight at Vishal Kaith after Alberto Noguera played a measured through ball in for the Australian. Noguera combined brilliantly again with Chhetri, but the skipper placed his shot wide to spur a glorious chance as the two sides headed into the break goalless.
The hosts began the second half well and created chances using both high and low crosses as a route to goal. Manvir Singh’s attempted cut-back from Greg Stewart’s through ball was expertly kept out by Bheke, while Gurpreet denied Deepak Tangri’s header from a corner with a full-stretched save. At the other end, Kaith tipped Mendez’s header over the crossbar as both sides enjoyed phases of sustained possession.
Liston Colaco opened the scoring in the 74th minute with a strike from long-range to put the hosts in front. In the third minute of added time, Bheke put too much power on his header from a corner as the Mariners’ defenders saw off Bengaluru’s late forays to seal three points.
Bengaluru FC next take on an away fixture against Punjab FC in Delhi in a 5 PM fixture on Saturday.
