ISL 2018-19: Bengaluru FC v Kerala Blasters Hits and Flops - Sunil Chhetri steals Sandesh Jhingan's thunder

Hit - Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC)

Sunil Chhetri celebrates after scoring the equaliser against Kerala Blasters with Rahul Bheke

Bengaluru FC's Sunil Chhetri had scored five goals before this match and is the highest Indian goalscorer.

However, all those five goals came before November 22 and he hadn't scored since the FC Goa 2-1 victory in November.

The absence of Miku in the line-up was the main reason for Chhetri's goal drought but the Venezuelan striker returned to the squad for the game against Blasters.

Chhetri had a couple of chances to snap that barren run but he was unable to.

The first half barely saw any chances going BFC's favour but the introduction of Xisco Fernandez in the second half gave Chhetri some work to do.

In the 51st minute, a wonderful cross by Udanta was headed above by Chhetri. Four minutes later, Dimas Delgado played him from the right but Chhetri hit the shot first time, straight at Kerala goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh.

All this was before Miku's introduction.

Once Miku was brought on, Chhetri could comfortably play his role. He even contributed to BFC's first goal by heading down a lobbed ball by Erik Paartalu for Miku and Udanta.

In the 76th minute, Chhetri played a similar pass for Xisco but the midfielder attempt drifted inches wide.

Yet, up to the hour mark, Chhetri was a letdown.

Chhetri redeemed for the misses and you could sense a goal was around the corner in the last 10 minutes of the game.

BFC kept playing crosses from the right and Chhetri was at the far post either heading it down or going for goal. In the 85th minute, a chipped ball from the right by Udanta saw Chhetri rise above his marker Mohamad Rakip and slot it in.