It was a sumptuous encounter at the top of the table of the Indian Super League when the table toppers – Bengaluru FC met Punjab FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. The stakes were high as both the teams were in fine form since the beginning of the season and had a point to prove in order to hold the top position in the table. Bengaluru FC went ahead with an all-Indian defence against Punjab FC but surprisingly, Sunil Chhetri was dropped to the bench. On the other hand, Punjab FC started with their set-team but received an important boost with the return of their talisman – Luka Majcen on the bench.
The match kick-started with Bengaluru FC holding most of the possession and utilizing its wings to stage its attack. With the attacking prowess of Pereyra Diaz, Pedro Capo and Edgar Mendez, Bengaluru FC tried pulling off a few shots at the very helm of the match. Punjab FC did try to utilize some of the dead-ball opportunities they received during the first half of the match but were unable to convert into goal-scoring opportunities.
Punjab FC’s Pulga Vidal freekick at the 33rd minute of the match was decent enough but Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stood tall enough to deflect the ball away. The match was heading into lemon break when Bengaluru FC catalysed their attacks with Rohit Danu and Pereyra Diaz utilizing the right wing. It was in the 43rd minute of the match when Pereyra Diaz slide past the ball through the defence of Punjab FC and Roshan Singh made no mistake and pulled a trigger from outside the box putting the ball in the back of the net and giving the Blues a well deserved lead in the last few minutes of the first half. Both the teams ended the first half with Bengaluru FC dominating most of the minutes of the match and Punjab FC trying to make a difference but they couldn’t.
The second half began with Bengaluru FC pulling off a key change. In came, Sunil Chhetri replacing the young prodigy Rohit Danu which clearly was a sign of how Bengaluru FC wanted to increase the number of goal-tally in the second half. Punjab FC was able to create a few chances in the beginning of the second half coming from the right wing with Leon Augustine leading the line. Punjab FC’s Gaffer Dilmperis did not want to waste any time and introduced Bakenga and Ricky Shabong to surge the attack. The match took an unexpected turn in the 58th minute when Sana was shown a direct red card for his reckless tackle on Bakenga. Bengaluru FC immediately introduced Jovanovic to strengthen its defence and to neutralize the increasing attacks from Punjab FC.
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Alberto Noguera was undoubtedly the man who was running the midfield of Bengaluru FC. He was swift with his moves and was ensuring that the ball reaches out to the wings helping the attack to grow. Punjab FC tried to take advantage of 10-sided Bengaluru FC with numerous attacks floating in but they lacked the composure to deliver it into the back of the net. Punjab FC was inches away from making the scores level when Bakenga got a golden opportunity to turn it to the back of the net but the ball hit the post and deflected back. Punjab FC added Asmir Suljic to the attack and he tried to bring in some flair in the attack by putting some deadly balls up to the forwards.
As the minutes passed, Punjab FC’s used its pacy wingers in the likes of Nihal Sudeesh and Abhimetei to stage up attacks which did put Bengaluru FC under some pressure. But, the trio of Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke & Jovanovic was firm enough in holding the clean sheet. It was in the 83rd minute of the match when a possible call for a handball was turned down by the referee which otherwise could have given a golden opportunity to Punjab FC to come back to the match.
Six minutes were added to the match as both the teams were relentless in scoring a goal in the dying moments of the match. There were some yellow cards shown to the technical staff of both the teams as Punjab FC was desperate in drawing levels. However, it was Bengaluru FC who were successful in holding the lead and ended the match with the only team in the league to be unbeaten this season.
Punjab FC would be hoping to comeback as they face Chennaiyin FC FC at home on the 31st of this month. On the other hand, Bengaluru FC will be travelling south to face their southern-rivals – Kerala Blasters FC this Friday which definitely is going to be a cracker of a match in the league.
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