Blues go down to Spanish club UCAM Murcia in their first Pre-season game

by Chittu Shetty August 10, 2017

Sunil Chhetri’s brace was not enough to take blues through as Bengaluru FC started their pre-season with a 2-4 loss to Spain’s UCAM Murcia C.F.

Sunil Chhetri scored the first goal for blues in Europe

Bengaluru FC played their first Pre-season friendly against Spanish club UCAM Murcia C.F. at Pinatar Arena. The club brought in an unknown trialist named Youssef in the playing XI.

Eight minutes into the game and blues scored their first ever goal in Europe. And it was none other than club legend and Captain Sunil Chhetri. Chhetri, scoring the first goal of blues pre-season, rounded off the keeper to slot home after a brilliant threaded pass from club’s new signing Toni Dovale. However In the 33^rd minute, Murcia came back when their striker Chevi’s shot from edge of the box  took a deflection off Dovale as it went past Mondal’s dive. Both the sides went in to the break on 1-1 score.

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Second half began with the host coming on with sea of changes to their sides while blues remained unchanged. Murcia changed gear quickly with their fresh legs, four minutes into the half Substitute Isi Ros scored to take the host into lead. Six minutes later, Murcia doubled their lead when another substitute Arroyo fired home to make it 3-1.

Just when it looked Murcia are running away with the game, Blues hit back and it was once again Sunil Chhetri who turn things around. Chhetri’s shot from left made it 2-3 after a brilliant assist from trialist youssef. Around the 73^rd minute, Roca made a series of changes to his side too giving his boys from the bench some game time. However it was Murcia who scored the final goal in the 85^th minute to put the game away from the blues reach. Victor Garcia restored the two-goal lead for Murcia with a brilliant free-kick that went in to the top corner of the post past substitute keeper Calvin.

The game ended with the score 2-4 but despite the loss coach Roca would be impressed to see the side gel well.