Bengaluru FC snapped a winless streak of eight games as the Blues put on a clinical display to beat SC East Bengal 2-0 in the Indian Super League at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Goa on Tuesday.
For East Bengal, the already slim playoff hopes took a serious hit.
Both goals for Bengaluru came in the first half through Cleiton Silva (12’) and a Debjit Majumder own goal (45’) sealing their fourth win of the season to jump to the sixth spot on the points table.
| Matches | W | D | L | For:Against | Goal diff. | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai City | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 20:7 | 13 | 30 |
| ATK Mohun Bagan | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 16:9 | 7 | 27 |
| Hyderabad | 15 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 20:16 | 4 | 22 |
| FC Goa | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 19:14 | 5 | 21 |
| NorthEast Utd. | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 19:18 | 1 | 21 |
| Bengaluru FC | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 19:19 | 0 | 18 |
| Jamshedpur FC | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 14:17 | -3 | 18 |
| Chennaiyin FC | 15 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 11:16 | -5 | 16 |
| Kerala Blasters | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 19:25 | -6 | 15 |
| SC East Bengal | 15 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 12:20 | -8 | 13 |
| Odisha | 14 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13:21 | -8 | 8 |
Bengaluru went into the break with a comfortable two-goal cushion and looked livelier than their opponents. The possession stats were in favor of SCEB in the opening half but they lacked efficiency in the final third, failing to register a single shot on target.
Moosa made two changes to the side that drew against Hyderabad FC. Juan Gonzalez and Erik Paartalu missed out with injury and suspension respectively, and replacing the duo were Pratik Chaudhari and Ajith Kumar.
Robbie Fowler, meanwhile, rang in five changes to his SC East Bengal side that drew with FC Goa as Matti Steinmann, Ankit Mukherjee, Wahengbam Luwang, Aaron Joshua Holloway and Harmanpreet Singh came in to replace Rana Gharami, Mohammed Rafique, Jacques Maghoma, Anthony Pilkington and Jeje Lalpekhlua.
SCEB created the first big chance of the game in the sixth minute. Bright Enobakhare was fed on the left flank and he squared the ball for Harmanpreet Singh but Ajith Kumar produced a fine block to bail his side out of trouble.
However, the Blues soon drew first blood after a well-taken set-piece. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu took the goal kick and pumped a long ball forward towards Sunil Chhetri, who flicked it towards Silva with a trademark leap. The Brazilian took one touch before smashing the ball into the back of the net on the half volley.
The Blues doubled their lead as the first half drew to close with Parag Shrivas forcing an own goal from SCEB. Rahul Bheke made his way towards the byline and his cutback found the youngster, who struck his shot first time. The ball touched the post and then SCEB keeper Majumder’s leg before trickling into the back of the net.
East Bengal’s struggles in the final third continued after the change of ends, with Fowler’s team failing to register a single shot on target.
Bengaluru, meanwhile, kept pushing for a third. Udanta Singh found Silva on the right wing, whose cutback found Chhetri. The Bengaluru captain made a run in to the box but blazed his shot over the bar.
Another great chance fell to Chhetri late on, and the Blues could have had a third had it not been for the crossbar coming to SCEB’s rescue. Rana Gharami failed to deal with Suresh Wangjam’s chipped pass which was received by Chhetri. The Bengaluru talisman took a touch and hit the ball on the half volley, but his shot came off the frame.
In the end, BFC’s wait for a win under interim coach Moosa came to an end as they held on to 2-0 win as well registered a clean sheet after 11 matches.