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Bengaluru FC put forth a statement of intent, aggression and domination against FC Goa, underpinning why they have been on top of the Indian Super League ladder for the larger chunk of the season.
Carles Cuadrat's side entered the game on the back of a couple of disheartening results and without the services of talisman Sunil Chhetri and midfield metronome Erik Paartalu.
Matters worsened as Nishu Kumar was sent off in the first half itself, leaving the hosts with a mountain to climb, especially when Goa's free-flowing, possession-based football was shaping up to some good.
However, big players always step up when needed. They rise to the occasion and take center stage against the best of teams, amid the most difficult circumstances. Yes, look no further than Miku, who steered his side to the top of the table courtesy of a goal and an assist.
Goa claimed majority of the ball in the first half, moved it better and struck the frame of goal as well - one a piece in either half, in fact.
The victory was emphatic, it was heroic, it was splendid, as while BFC recorded their first clean sheet since the 13th of December, the Gaurs shipped three goals; the first time they have conceded in six games.
In the end, Sergio Lobera's side pressed for an equalizer but faltered as chances went begging. In the end, it was just a matter of luck and missed chances, which is not a new essence in football. When it's not your day, it's just not your day.
On that note, let's take a look at five players who endured contrasting fortunes at the Fortress in Bengaluru.
#5 Hit: Rahul Bheke
A rather sound BFC back line maintained an unlikely clean sheet at the Fortress, and no one would bet against the ever-so-reliable Rahul Bheke to miss out from this list.
Yes, his partner fired home a thunderous left-footed volley to break the deadlock, but Bheke ensured no nonsense at the back. He cleared his lines, prevented crosses and defended extremely well by not committing to challenges.
Every time the opposition got free in spaces, Bheke was there to cover up. The versatile defender was safe as a house as he read the situation and pace of the game well and didn't put a foot wrong.
#4 Flop: Brandon Fernandes
Goa made quite a few mistakes at the back, but those were not the ones that were brutally punished by the home team. Overall, Goa were quite decent at the back and while pressing, albeit the score line suggests otherwise.
It was the forward play, their most lethal weapon, that took a mighty blow during key intervals of the game. And Brandon Fernandes was probably the antagonist of the same run of events.
The winger simply had no product to what he performed. He was seen in the inverted areas of the pitch, but there was nothing to show apart from side-way passes and misplaced through balls and crosses.
He was in key positions many a time. Once, Coro, as he always does to bring the wingers in for a cross by dropping deep, displayed exquisite technique, drove forward and split the home defence with a through ball to Brandon. The latter took a heavy touch and as you'd have guessed, squandered the golden opportunity.
Twice more, he had a lot to aim at, but due to feebleness in his strike, Fernandes couldn't make a telling impact. He summed up his and Goa's outing with a horrible miss at the end from about five yards out, when Gurpreet was not even inside the frame.
#3 Hit: Ahmed Jahouh
A silver lining for FC Goa was the presence of Ahmed Jahouh at the heart of defence. On paper, he was meant to play at the number eight position, but Jahouh slotted in as another center back - in between Mourtada Fall and Carlos Pena.
And boy, he put in a fantastic shift. Jahouh was, by a good mile, ahead of the rest in terms of the physical game. He was sturdy and robust at the back. The Moroccan won the aerial duels and most importantly, played to his strengths by trusting his instincts.
He sprayed passes all across the pitch, and despite the presence of four-five blue shirts around, Jahouh exhibited Lobera's philosophy by spearheading the build-up play from the back and carving open the BFC midfield.
He had a crack on goal from about 35 yards out as well, but Jahouh smashed the underside of the bar, which proved to be the closest Goa came to opening the scoring in the first half.
#2 Flop: Nishu Kumar
We always knew the in-form Jackichand Singh would infuse tons of pace, precision and trickery down the right, leaving Nishu Kumar with a tough ask of keeping his lines and not allowing Jacki to get behind him.
But Nishu endured the worst possible outing as he accumulated a couple of yellow cards in a span of 20 minutes to see himself off. The referee's decision to outcast the second yellow remains a talking point, but Nishu never ever looked settled at the back.
Time and time again, the full back was beaten for pace and the balance portrayed by Jacki. He was forced to give away fouls, and whenever he did commit, the Goa attackers got the better of him.
More so, Nishu Kumar was seen high up the pitch quite a few times. That's not a problem until you forget to look at who's lurking behind your back. Unfortunately, his lazy attitude and positional frailties, especially against a team like Goa - who love to get forward in numbers down the flanks - was suicidal.
#1 Hit: Miku
Guess who's back?
Miku, you bet. Bengaluru's star forward proved why they so dearly missed him in the last couple of months. It also laid out why the goals had dried up to a notable extent in his absence.
Talking of absence, BFC recorded this victory against arguably the best attacking side in the division, without Chhetri and Paartalu, and without Nishu Kumar for most part of the game.
First things first, Miku's touch was simply gorgeous. His awareness to pick out a dream pass with his very first touch got the entire crowd on its toes. Not once but thrice, Miku outfoxed the rest with his vision in the final third. From the flicks to the back heels, the sharpshooter had all to display.
Next, his work rate on and off the ball was fantastic. Miku played with purpose, interchanged key passes with the teammates around him and worked his socks off. He also left the Goa defence begging with a peach of a ball to Udanta Singh, who fired home the second.
Just when you thought he was back in business, the Venezuelan turned in a tight situation, left an orange shirt stranded and then launched an out-swinger without major load. It was just pure technique; a strike that had class written all over it.
