Bangaluru FC vs pune FC

Ashley Westwood’s Bengaluru FC played hosts to Karim Bencherifa’s men from Pune FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in the Garden city for their 2nd I- League match of the 2015 season.

Both the teams were coming into this match at the back of a draw from their first fixture. The stadium witnessed a decent crowd turn out and there was no dearth of support for The Blues, as Bengaluru are fondly called even as Sunil Chhetri did not feature in the starting 11.

The match started off with an initial attack from either side, while Bengaluru’s Thoi Singh shot off target in the 5th minute, Pune messed up an opportunity on the counter attack. The match was bustling with speed and skill.

The drama unfolded in the 9th minute, Bengaluru defence was caught up asking for an offside when Pune’s new recruit Darko Nikac got in a straight goal slotting it past goal keeper Ralte. Bengaluru were one goal down while Nikac logged in his very first I- League goal.

Pune had now started attacking from the wings since the goal, much to Ashley Westwood’s frustration who had been trying everything from the sidelines to urge his team to move forward.

Edgar Marcelino was having at a golden day at the office when in the 25th minute he delivered a curling cross on a free kick for Luciano Sabrosa to flick it in off a header into the top corner of the goal. There was nothing goalkeeper Ralte could have really done on this amazing finish. Pune FC were looking lethal after doubling their lead.

A forced change was made by Bengaluru on the 28th minute when Sunil Chhetri came on for Keegan Pereira. In the next couple of minutes, the Blues after a 2 goal deficit tried successive shots on goal only to be denied by the Pune goalkeeper Amrinder Singh.

Darko Nikac on the other side menacingly advanced to try for a goal again in the 31st minute but it just ran wide as the defence is caught napping.
Come the 40th minute, Chhetri who is in front of the box almost tries to get the ball in but once again sublime keeping from Amrinder saves the day for Pune.

Bengaluru then tried hard to get one in during the injury time but were unable to do so, with Rino giving in a good cross to Chhetri for a header which just brushed past the nets on the outside, inches close to scoring.

At half time the scoreline read Pune 2 and Bengaluru 0.

Robin Singh, was brought in by the Blues at the start of the second half and he made his presence felt in just a couple of minute even as the Red Lizards (Pune) captain Izumi is the real playmaker with important passes.

Haokip of Pune missed a header on a gifted chance in the 52nd minute right under the cross bar. It could have easily been 3-0 as a result of sloppy defending.

The next 10 minutes belonged to Bengaluru entirely as they were gradually creeping back into the game led by the trio of Rooney, Chhetri and Robin Singh. A hat trick of attempts were made on goal.. in the 60th, 61st and 63rd minute all to be saved by the stupendous positioning of Amrinder Singh who stood rock solid in front of his goal and the Bengaluru strikers.

In the 69th minute, a blatant foul by Pune was ignored by the referee and he further added to Bengaluru’s displeasure by giving a yellow card to Robin Singh in the 72nd minute.

Raju Yumnam helped set the the cherry atop the cake for Pune as Haokip scored an easy goal on his pass. It was a goal that did not even kiss the nets, just hit the crossbar and landed inside the goal line. Red Lizards were making most of their limited possession.

The last minute was when Lyngdoh pulled one back for Bengaluru, on a back pass from Rooney, he curled the ball in for the top right corner of the box, but it was a little too late.

5 minutes of added time was given but not much of fireworks were seen as the match ended with a 3-1 score line in favors of Pune FC.

While, Bengaluru rest on a single point after 2 matches at home, Pune FC boast of 4 points after defeating the defending champions.

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