MUMBAI: Sunil Chhetri returned to familiar turf at Mumbai Football Arena, wearing a different jersey but reputation and form like last season which made him the darling of Mumbai City FC (MCFC) fans.
This time, in a No. 11 white outfit for Bengaluru FC (BFC), he proved to be a tricky customer for his former teammates, scoring twice in a display of goal-poaching skills and decision-making ability in the goalmouth.
MCFC’s over-worked defence lost form and resilience in the face of constant attacks. Venezuelan striker Miku, not wanting to be left behind in the race to score for the visitors, converted a direct-free-kick to seal a 3-1 victory for BFC and lifted the ISL debutant to pole position in the 10-team league table.
Leo Costa reduced the margin for the hosts, a brave effort to turn the tide after his team was drowned by waves of raids.
Chhetri’s goals came through a power-packed penalty kick and a stylish right-footed placement low to the corner. Amrinder Singh, in the goal, had no chance to get close to the mighty drive from the spot nor the time to switch angle from post to post when the live-wire India captain finished off at first touch.
The MCFC defence came off second best when Miku hammered in the third off a direct free-kick, a right-footed finish to the near corner. Leo Costa’s strike for the home team came too late to light up the fightback.
Amrinder and Gurpreet Singh, guarding the goal for MCFC and BFC respectively, were kept on toes from start. Miku and Erik Partalu tested the former and Balwant Singh mis-kicked in an attempt to float the ball, which sailed over. The noisy stadium atmosphere demanded more goalmouth action amidst drumbeats and blaring trumpets.
Chhetri’s presence was felt in the 25th minute, moving into position for a relay by Udanta following a run down the right. The captain decided to connect first-time, only to find the home team custodian in place to collect. The latter dived to his left and deflected away a shot on the turn by Boithang Haokip. A stunning save foiling a super shot.
The excitement levels in the stands soared when a penalty-kick was awarded to BFC. Three defenders charging in towards Chhetri set off a chain reaction. He was felled and took the shot himself, beating Amrinder with a blast high into the corner. He netted again in the second-half, finishing off a move by Udanta’s daring run and tap back to captain.
MCFC remains in fifth place after 11 matches.
The result:
Bengaluru FC 3 (Sunil Chhetri 43-pen, 52, Miku 63) bt Mumbai City FC 1 (Leo Costa 76).
