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Bengaluru FC were thoroughly dominant during their 3-0 win against Transport United in Tuesday's crunch AFC Cup Playoff second leg. Having drawn the first leg 0-0, BFC bounced back in style tonight.
A sublime long range effort from Daniel Lalhlimpuia was sandwiched between two well-taken goals by Boithang Haokip and Thongkhosiem Haokip. The visitors looked clueless on a night when they had to be alert and confident. Here are the major talking points from tonight's encounter.
#1 Bengaluru display intent by pressing from minute one
Post their surprise 0-0 draw in the first leg, BFC seemed intent on bossing the game tonight from the get-go and they looked positive in possession. The home side incessantly pressed Transport United, pegging back the visitors, deep into their own half.
Right back, Khabra, Boithang, Semboi and midfielder, Alwyn George were especially active and snapped at their opponents heels from minute one. Their hunger to win back the ball was admirable. The Bhutanese outfit seemed extremely nervous at the onset and were content in absorbing the pressure, choosing not to be adventurous early on.
BFC sprayed the ball across to all parts of the pitch in their attempt to stretch their opponents. Long cross-field balls from Juanan were a regular scenario throughout the night.
#2 Harmanjot Khabra was as solid as they get
Having played every single ISL game so far, Bengaluru's right back has been one of their most consistent players this season. Tonight though, he was at his peak and BFC's best player on the pitch.
Not one to usually receive adulation, Harmanjot Khabra put in an extremely solid performance against Transport United. He ran up and down the right wing all night long and also played in multiple dangerous crosses from the touch line.
More importantly, Khabra made numerous interceptions and defensively, he could do no wrong. His energy was infectious and he was ever present to receive a pass when his teammates were looking to make one.
#3 Boithang Haokip arrives at the party
After fluffing a dozen opportunities, Boithang Haokip finally gave the home side the lead courtesy a well-taken header. The goal always seemed imminent given the fact that BFC were out and out dominating their opponents.
Semboi did well to lose his marker and lofted in a clever cross from the right. Haokip managed to get in between both the centre backs before rising high and heading the ball past keeper, Gurung, who up until then had made multiple saves to deny Bengaluru.
In the larger scheme of things, Albert Roca's men ought to have been at least three goals ahead inside the opening thirty minutes. Fortunately for Transport, their keeper was in fine form.
#4 Transport United pay the price for passive approach
"When we enter the field, we always believe we are the best team. Tomorrow they (BFC) will put some key players and we will be very happy to play against them," these were the words of Transport United winger Kencho Tobgay before tonight's clash.
The belief that was visible before the game surely did not translate onto the pitch. Simply put, the visitors looked passive and weak all night long. They rarely had possession of the ball and when they did, they lacked the ideas and hunger to make things happen.
Playing an AFC level game, you'd have expected the Bhutan based outfit to pose at least a semblance of threat. What followed was 90 minutes of football during which only one team looked determined to win while the other made no effort whatsoever to change the outcome.
#5 Bench players repay their faith in Albert Roca
Chants of "We Want Chhetri" reverberated around the Sree Kanteerava Stadium from the first half and continued into the second. Emphasising the need to maintain their momentum in the ISL, BFC coach, Albert Roca decided to field an unfamiliar playing eleven against Transport United.
The likes of Sunil, Miku, Partaalu and Gurpreet did not start but Bengaluru's bench players surely made a case for themselves with their performance. Alwyn George, Semboi, Boithang, Nishu and Daniel played some slick football between themselves and their opponents had no answers to the quick tempo.
Alber Roca can rest easy this season knowing that if needed, he has players on the bench who are very well capable of making the difference. Bengaluru's bench looked relentless and eager to impress.
