Bengaluru FC showed a spirit and verve that has so far deserted them this season as they came from a goal down to beat Mohun Bagan 2-1 on Tuesday in the AFC Cup round-robin fixture at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
The home side were comfortably the second best team in the first half and went behind after Katsumi Yusa converted through a 36th minute penalty. After the interval, the Bagan defence fell apart. Defender Sandesh Jhingan slotted home the equaliser before skipper Sunil Chhetri got back to goal-scoring ways with an expertly taken free-kick.
Bengaluru struggled with the tricky runs of Sony Norde and Yusa. Bagan’s midfield allowed little time and space on the ball for the home side to control play, and were calm in possession. Jhingan and Co. were under the cosh for long spells, and Bagan should have done better when keeper Arindam Bhattacharya’s played a calamitous misplaced pass inside the first 10 minutes.
Riding on the momentum, Bagan eventually opened the scoring when Norde was brought down by Jhingan inside the box.
Bengaluru’s resurgence started towards the closing stages of the first half with Jhingan nearly heading an equaliser. Jhingan eventually got his goal barely 10 minutes into the second half after heading home off Cameron Watson’s cleverly taken corner.
Six minutes later, Chhetri scored the winner with a superb curling free-kick from 25 yards out.
CK Vineeth and Udanta Singh produced some fine attacking runs in the final half hour to keep Bagan in their own half. Bagan’s hope of finding an equaliser did not amount to much as Bengaluru closed out the game confidently to pick up three points
The score
- Bengaluru FC 2 (Sandesh Jhingan, Sunil Chhetri) beat Mohun Bagan 1 (Katsumi Yusa).