Bengaluru FC defeated East Bengal comprehensively 3-1 at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday. Goals from Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Kim Song Yong and Malsawmzuala helped them come from behind to clinch the win, after Do Dong-hyun had given East Bengal the lead.
Lineups: With Bengaluru FC and East Bengal both missing defensive mainstays through suspension, namely John Johnson and Arnab Mondal, Ashley Westwood and Biswajit Bhattacharya named replacements with Keegan Pereira and Bernard Mendy slotting into defence for Lal Holud.
Bengaluru FC: Amrinder Singh (GK), Kim Song Yong, Rino, Udanta, Eugeneson, Osano, Malsawmzuala, Keegan, Lalchuanmawia, Chhetri, Collins.
East Bengal: Rehenesh (GK), Abinas Ruidas, Rahul Bheke, Bello Rasaq, Saumik Dey, Ranti Martins, Mrmanjot, Do Donghyun, Sanju Pradhan, Sehnaj, Bernard Mendy
Bengaluru, East Bengal share honours in first half
The teams came out to a raucous atmosphere at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, as the sizeable away contingent contributed to the noise alongwith BFC's famed West Block A stand. The home side started off the stronger, as they had an early chance with Kim Song Yong, who wrestled Bernard Mendy to the ground and got off a shot that went narrowly wide. Bengaluru FC continued to assert their dominance, as Lyngdoh and Collins had shots on goal within the opening 15 minutes.
East Bengal had their first real chance of the game in the 20th minute, as Ranti Martins headed the ball narrowly over from a delicious cross by Sanju Pradhan. The visitors grabbed the opener against the run of play in the 28th minute, as Malsawmzuala made a mistake in midfield and was robbed of the ball by Do Dung Hyun, who charged at the BFC defence and unleashed a shot across goal with his left foot, that even Amrinder with a despairing dive at full stretch could not stop.
The home side did not let their heads drop, and came back into the game immediately through midfield lynchpin Eugeneson Lyngdoh. Kim Song Yong worked some space down the right wing and sent in a lovely cross, which Lyngdoh bravely charged at, to score with a diving header to restore parity in the 29th minute.
Rehenesh TP had to be at his best in the 37th minute as he pulled off a great save to deny Kim's header from a left wing cross. The goalkeeper was thanking his stars as the half ended, as Sunil Chhetri nearly profited from a headed flick-on by Kim, but saw his volley narrowly fly above the bar. The referee called time on a breathless first half, as both sides went level into the break with the score at 1-1.
Bengaluru dominate second half to clinch the game
Both teams looked to secure the lead again in the second half, with the first opportunity going to the home side, with Udanta firing just wide after being put through by Eugeneson Lyngdoh. East Bengal created their own chance in the 52nd minute, as Do Dong's cross found Harmanjot Khabra, but his shot was saved by Amrinder.
The next chance was created by the visitors, as Do Dong let rip from outside the area in the 56th minute, but Amrinder flew across his goal to palm the ball away. They almost had another chance on goal, but Ranti Martins was foiled by Keegan Pereira just in time.
Bengaluru FC then took the lead in the 64th minute, as Kim Song Yong scored the vital goal, majestically heading in Eugeneson Lyngdoh's lovely cross from the left. The Blues then scored the all-important third goal that killed the match, and effectively, the league.
Malsawmzuala’s long-ranger after a bout of possession around the edge of the box was powerfully struck but straight at Rehenesh TP in the East Bengal goal. The goalkeeper, however, made a meal of it, and his howler saw the ball go into the goal, handing Bengaluru FC a 3-1 lead in the 70th minute.
Following the goal, Bengaluru FC were content keeping the ball, and playing on the counter while East Bengal surprisingly let the pace drop, instead of pressing to get a goal back. The final whistle saw the home team cement their position at the top of the table, on 29 points, two ahead of Mohun Bagan, having played a game less. East Bengal remain in third position, with 24 points from their 14 matches.
