I-League: Goal-shy Bengaluru FC settle for draw

Bengaluru: Defending champions Bengaluru FC continued their affinity towards draws as they finished goalless with Mohun Bagan, who played with 10 men for the last 20 minutes, in a game of two halves at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday.

With the draw, the JSW-side are yet to register a win at home after the victory against Mumbai on Jan. 18. It could have been worse for them as Katusmi Yusa had the ball in the net late in the match only for the referee to rule it out for a foul.

Eugeneson Lyngdoh was restored to the line-up after missing out for the past few matches but the midfielder looked off-colour, often passing the ball to the opponents.

For the visitors, captain Yusa shone the brightest with his close control and passing range and had the better of young left back Nishu Kumar, who has improved leaps and bounds but was unfortunate to have been paired against the classy Japanese.

Bagan forced the first save in the game in the 18th minute as Darryl Duffy curled one from outside the box forcing Arindam Bhattacharya in goal into action.

The Sanjoy Sen-coached side continued their barrage and almost took the lead 10 minutes later when Balwant Singh, often more lethal with his head than with his feet, tested Bhatacharya’s reflexes with a close range header.

The BFC midfield often found it hard to keep the game in their grasp as the traveling side, armed with their two best creators playing wide, used the flanks to drag the players off position. The fact that Norde and Yusa often had to be double teamed didn’t make things any easier.

Dependable pair at the back
At the back, both pairs of centre halves proved to be solid and dependable as they parried almost all the threats that came their way.

Right back Pritam Kotal was the next one to produce a nearly moment as a quick switch of flanks from Norde caught the hosts off guard and it was only a desperate lunge from Juanan that ended the threat.

BFC’s first real chance came five minutes before the break, which still saw Duffy force another save, when Sunil Chhetri found Lyngdoh just outside the box and the midfielder, after a wonderful touch, curled it just wide.

The restart saw the home side come off the blocks quickly: they had a penalty appeal denied, Chhetri going down in the box, and a free-kick from Lyngdoh inexplicably failed to find the target, thanks to goalkeeper Shilton Paul, despite the best efforts from the players and the cross being a wonderful one, all in the first five minutes.

With 20 minutes to go, BFC in ascendancy and raining balls into the opposition box, Bagan defender Subhasish Bose was shown his second yellow for bringing down Udanta Singh. Chhetri hit the side netting five minutes later but for all their possession and intent, failed to effect any change to the scoreline and their fortunes.