THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

Bengaluru FC settle for point against Aizawl as Sunil Chhetri break goal record

Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri in action against Aizawl FC at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium (Photo courtesy: Bengaluru FC)

Bengaluru FC’s tryst with the wrong end of luck continued after the Blues saw a second-half penalty saved and a legitimate goal disallowed in a 1-1 draw with Aizawl FC at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, in Aizawl, on Wednesday. The draw, their third in a row, left the Blues winless in five games in the I-League.

Falling behind to a Brandon Vanlalremdika goal in the 39th minute, Bengaluru fought their way back into the game with a stunning Sunil Chhetri strike to make it 1-1 before the skipper saw a penalty saved in the second half. The draw moved the Blues up to fourth position on the table with 12 points ahead of East Bengal FC’s clash against Shillong Lajong later in the day.

Albert Roca chose to ring in one change from the side that drew with Minerva Punjab last week, drafting local boy Daniel Lalhlimpuia ahead of CK Vineeth.

Bengaluru started the game with a lot more intent than they have otherwise and the charge had Aizawl on the ropes early on. But Khalid Jamil’s side began finding their feet and their first real attempt came around the half-hour mark when Mahmoud Al Amna saw his header come off the crossbar. The ball bounced back into play after the close shave and Blues’ ‘keeper Amrinder Singh pulled off a smart save to deny Alfred Jaryan who struck from 25 yards out.

Chhetri then had two chances in two minutes, first failing to connect cleanly from an Udanta cut-back and then firing inches wide after deftly bringing down the ball in the box and losing two Aizawl men. But it was the hosts who got the lead against the run of play when Bayi Kamo threaded a ball to pick Ashutosh Mehta whose low cross from the right was tapped in by Brandon Vanlalremdika in the 39th minute.

Refusing to be undone by the goal, Bengaluru began building up play patiently. But for all the stringing together of passes and spells of possession, it was a moment of individual brilliance by Chhetri that got the Blues back into the game before half-time. Winning the ball back from an Aizawl throw in, Cameron Watson nodded the ball down to the skipper who, after a few bounces, smashed home a shot into the top right corner – a take that no ’keeper worth his weight could have done anything about.

Starting the second half on an even footing, Bengaluru had the chance to take the lead when Lalruatthara pulled Sandesh Jhingan down as Watson sent in a corner kick, prompting referee Rowan Arumugham to point to the spot. But Albino Gomes guessed correctly to dive and deny Chhetri and Bengaluru the lead.

The Blues did put the ball in the back of the net only minutes later when Jhingan nodded in another Watson take from a corner only for Rowan to blow the whistle for a very questionable foul on Gomes.

Throwing on Seiminlen Doungel and Mandar Rao Dessai to add width and pace to the Blues attack, the Blues were left frustrated as shots from both wingers and Chhetri fizzled wide in the closing stages. Doungel came closest to giving the Blues a late lead after he nodded Mandar’s cross on target only to see Gomes save.

Another foul on Doungel was ignored by Arumugham as the striker was brought down while chasing down Khabra’s long pass forward.

The Blues next face Mumbai FC at the Cooperage Stadium, on Saturday.

Sunil Chhetri became the all-time leading Indian scorer in the history of the NFL and I-League. Chhetri equaled Baichung Bhutia’s record of 89 goals with his goal against Minerva Punjab FC at the Kanteerava on February 11th and went one better with his 25 yard strike against Aizawl FC on Wednesday.

(Bengaluru FC Press Release)