Bengaluru fail to earn full-points against 10-men Sporting

I-League Media  

AIFF Media  

Bengaluru FC came back from two goals down but couldn’t do enough to eke out a win against a ten-man Sporting Clube de Goa at the Fatorda Stadium, in Goa, on Sunday. The game ended 2-2 after skipper Sunil Chhetri struck once in each half after a freak Mascarenhas goal and an Odafa Okolie strike gave the hosts a lead.

Bengaluru were dealt with an early blow after defender Curtis Osano had to be replaced by Keegan Pereira after the former pulled his groin just fifteen minutes into the game. The home side took the lead with a freak goal just two minutes later after Lalthuammawia Ralte’s clearance from a Lalchhuanmawia back-pass rebounded off an onrushing Marcus Mascarenhas and bounced into the Bengaluru goal.

The Blues tried their best to reduce the deficit recycling well in midfield to let Udanta and Chhetri attack the flanks. Striker Kim Song Yong came close to scoring the Blues equalizer but a cross into the box from Udanta was inches away from the diving North Korean.

Against the run of play, Sporting extended their lead through a long-range shot from Odafa Okolie. The Nigerian striker collected a pass from Mahmoud Al-Amna before taking a shot that found its way past a diving Ralte in the Blues’ goal.

But Bengaluru clawed right back into the tie at the death of the first half when Loveday Okechukwu brought down John Johnson in the box and referee Santosh Kumar promptly pointed to the spot where Chhetri found the Blues’ opener from. Booked for the foul, Loveday received marching orders only a minute later when he hacked down Udanta while the winger was charging down the right.

Starting the second half with a goal to show for and a man more than Sporting, Bengaluru switched gears, leaving the hosts to defend deep. Michael Collins came close to getting Bengaluru an equaliser and what could have been his first goal for the Blues only to see his goal-bound low drive pushed out by Arindam Bhattacharya.

Bengaluru eventually did find their equaliser when Chhetri tapped into an empty goal after Daniel Lalhlimpuia’s cross fell perfectly for the skipper. The Blues ventured forward with intent and came close to finding a winner when a strike from inside the area by Lalchhuanmawia went inches high of the Sporting frame.

The result leaves Bengaluru second on the table, level on points with Mohun Bagan, who have a game in hand over the Blues. Westwood’s men return to AFC Cup duties as they face defending Champions Johor Darul Ta’zim at the Kanteerava Stadium, on Wednesday. 

10-men Sporting Clube de Goa with help of Odafa's brace sinks Bengaluru

AIFF and Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC fell to their second defeat of the season after an Odafa Okolie brace handed Ashley Westwood’s men a 2-1 defeat against Sporting Clube de Goa. CK Vineeth drew level for the Blues who had fallen behind in the 9th minute only for the Nigerian striker to give a 10-man Sporting the win with a goal in the second half.

Crowd at Sree Kanterava Stadium could hardly settle down when Bengaluru kicked-off a series of attack. They could have easily gone ahead within the first minute. They forced the first corner in the 6th minute of the game, but the effort from the debutante Michael Collins sailed over the crossbar.

Much to the horror of the vociferous home crowd, Flaming Oranje went ahead from a goal from veteran Odafa Oniyeka Okolie. The match was only 11th minute old when central defender John Johnson along with the ball came out from the box, after losing possession, he failed to fall back on time, therefore leaving dangerous striker open, Odafa receives the ball, and calmly places behind the net.  

Sporting enjoyed the ball possession for the next 15 minutes superbly controlled by Oranje midfielder Densil Theobald. 

In the 20th minute of the game, a foul was committed on Odafa. The free kick from a dangerous position, got deflected via Bengaluru FC player for a corner. While the corner was about to be taken, Sporting defender Ravanan elbowed Alwyn Goerge inside the box. Referee Venkatesh flashed yellow in no time. That was the second booking for Ravanan earning match suspension for the rest of the game. 

Quite unnecessary on Ravanan’s part considering his team was leading at that time. 

The last 15 minutes of the first half saw relentless attacks from the Blues with no joy in their way, perhaps much to do with Kim Song Yong and Chhetri’s off-form today and stout defending from Loveday and company. 

Luck was not on hosts’ favor till the first quarter of the second half, when a series of attacks failed to see the back of the net. 

Meanwhile, Ashley Westwood brought in speedy Beikhokhei for Thoi Singh.

Much needed equalizer came on Bengaluru’s was came from CK Vineeth in the 64th minute when his shot via deflection went past Sporting keeper Arindam. 

The eleven thousand strong spectators joy was short lived when a powerful shot from the top of the box from Odafa gave 10-men Sporting Clube De Goa a 2-1 lead. 

Despite playing with one player less, Sporting enjoyed their share of attacks primarily constituted by Odafa. Their keeper Arindam too had an excellent outing today, coming accurate in most of the time. 

Odafa was adjudged the Hero of the match. 

Bengaluru FC take on DSK Sivajians at home on Wednesday, February 10.