Blues lose 0-3 to Spain’s FC Cartagena

by Chittu Shetty August 13, 2017

Bengaluru FC lost 0-3 to Spanish 2nd division side FC Cartagena as Roca continued testing his new signings while also trying out academy boys with game time

Photo credit – @BengaluruFC Twitter

Blues suffered their second loss of their pre-season campaign in a game where Albert Roca chose to try out few of his new signings and a couple of academy boys.

Blues started without Juanan and Johnson in the back giving out the chance to new signings Subashish and Zotea while Bheke started on rightback. Blues no.1 keeper Mawia and Pacy winger Udanta too started in the playing XI.

The first half was an evenly contested affair with both the sides creating fair number of chances. In the 12^th minute, Blues trialist Youssef tried a quick 1-2 with Chhetri before firing just wide of the post. Six minutes later, Udanta created a chance with a cross that Khabra cut back for Erik whose final shot was blocked. Udanta created a lot of trouble for the opponent with his pace, firing in dangerous crosses from the flanks.

As the half wore on, the home side came back into game. In the 35^th minute, a lobbed effort went just wide but two minutes later Cartagena player Chavaro hit the woodwork. With the half coming to an end, Cartagena increased their pressure with a series of corner. Soon a minute before break, Kukii zalazar gave the home side a lead.

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Second half began on a worse note as after a series of corners for the Cartagena; blues conceded two goals in the space of three minute. In the 52^nd minute, confusion in the blues defence was capitalised by Aketxe as he slotted home from a close range. Two minutes later, Aketxe doubled his tally as blues defence failed to clear a low cross.

Soon Roca ringed in number of changes to give his bench a try out. In the 69^th minute, Collin sent in a good cross but Semboi’s header at the end went wayward. In the final ten minutes, academy graduates Kalinga and Leon, both of whom recently played against the Japanese side Avispa Fukuoka U18 back in early August, were given a try out.

The game ended at 3-0 as blues defensive lapses cost them again conceding three goals in the space of ten minutes on either side of half.

Final Score: Bengaluru FC 0 – 3 FC Cartagena (Zalazar 44’, Aketxe 52’, 54’)