Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC underlined their title ambitions by dishing out a 4-1 thumping to Delhi Dynamos courtesy a brace from Erik Paartalu, to maintain their perfect start after Round Two of the Indian Super League, here at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Sunday. The two teams headed into this fixture with unchanged line-ups on the back of opening round victories, and the Miguel Portugal-coached Dynamos sought to find a second away win.
But the Lions couldn’t find their passing rhythm and looked edgy in the opening exchanges. Blues’ striker Miku smacked the crossbar with a header off an Edu Garcia cross in the 2nd minute before testing goalkeeper Albino Gomes moments later. The scorer of the first goal in last week’s 2-0 win over Mumbai City FC, Edu, was at the crux of the action from the get-go. In the 22nd minute, his delightful set-piece delivery at the back post was met by full-back Harmonjot Khabra, who deflected his header into the danger area for Paartalu to nod home for his first-ever goal for the Blues.
Delhi couldn’t really get out of their own half, leaving dangermen Lallianzuala Chhangte and forward Kalu Uche largely isolated. Edu could have put his name up in lights but had his one-on-one opportunity saved. The Spaniard made amends with an in-swinging corner for Paartalu to head home again just before halftime.
The third goal exemplified exactly what Delhi were unable to do – move the ball around swiftly. Sunil Chettri found Udanta with a raking cross-field pass, who chested it down brilliantly and had his cut-back pushed away by Albino, but only into midfielder Lenny Rodrigues’ path as he coolly slotted home.
Centre-back John Johnson conceded a late penalty for a handball in the area, which the Nigerian Uche duly converted in the 85th minute. Minutes later, BFC’s Miku stroked in his first goal of the campaign from close range to round off the scoring. Bengaluru sit pretty atop the table with 6 points, and now face FC Goa away from home on November 30.
