Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
FATORDA: Indian Super League titans FC Goa and Bengaluru FC rocked the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium producing an excellent 90-minute showmanship for the Goans fans.
But in the end, it was a heartbreaking affair for the home crowd as FC Goa could not keep up with the mighty grit of Bengaluru FC losing 1-2.
Rahul Bheke opened the scoring with an improvised back heel flick in the 34th minute. Both teams were then reduced to 10-man after the restart as Mohammad Ali and Dimas Delgado were sent off.
Brandon Fernandes equalised for the host in the 72nd minute but Sunil Chhetri notched the winner for Bengaluru FC five minutes later. The win takes Bengaluru FC — only unbeaten side in the ISL — level on points with FC Goa at the top of the table with two games in hand over the Gaurs.
The visitors took the lead in the 34th minute when Delgado’s corner-kick fell to Xisco Hernandez at the edge of the box. The Spaniard’s weak shot was gorgeously flicked into the net by Bheke at the far post.
The host were reduced to 10-man two minutes into the second-half when Ali picked up a second yellow card. Bengaluru FC were also dealt a blow at the hour mark when Delgado was shown a straight red card for a high-footed tackle on Hugo Boumous.
FC Goa got their equaliser in the 72nd minute when Ferran Corominas fought his way into the box through a crowd of defenders and found Brandon in the centre. The midfielder slotted the ball into the net, helped by a deflection.
Bengaluru restored their lead five minutes later when Chhetri lost his marker and headed home to secure all three points for his side.
