New Delhi: The Bengaluru Football Club (FC) beat Mumbai City 3-0 in the Indian Super League at the Nehru Stadium, Goa, on January 10, 2021.
The dramatic event began as Bengaluru keeper Gurpreet Sandhu saved a header by Mumbai’s Cassio Gabriel in the 2nd minute. Danish Farooq gave Bengaluru a lead in the 8th minute.
FC’s Cleiton Silva received the ball from the right, immediately pushed through 3 Mumbai defenders, and passed the ball to Farooq.
Farooq shot from the bottom left corner of the box and gained the first for the team as the shocked City players looked on. Though Mumbai’s Bipin Singh tried to shoot, Sandhu saved the goal in the 13th minute.
Mumbai’s Mohamad Rakip sent a pass to his keeper Phurba Lachenpamid and created an awkward situation, but Lachenpamid successfully prevented the ball from entering the net in the 20th minute.
Roshan Singh Naorem of Bengaluru received the ball from the right flank and delivered a cross. Prince Ibara headed the ball as Bengaluru led the match by 2-0 in the 23rd minute.
Mumbai’s Rahul Bheke and Bengaluru’s Pratik Chowdhary received a yellow card in the 26th and the 33rd minute.
On the other hand, Ibara deflected a wide by Naorem in the 35th minute. The shot was going to the net before Lachenpamid made a clumsy save.
Ibara passed to Silva, but Rakip stopped the latter in the 43rd minute. Mumbai’s Vinit Rai and Bengaluru’s Danish Farooq received a yellow card in the 45th minute. Meanwhile, Naorem made another smooth corner and passed the ball to Ibara in the 45th minute.
Ibara leapt in the air and smashed a powerful header past a stunned Lachenpamid. Bengaluru was leading the first half with 3-0.
Though the second half presented many scoring opportunities for the City, Sandhu saved the goals.
The second half had Sunil Chhetri replacing Ibara, Gurkirat Singh replacing Bipin Singh, Iman Basafa replacing Udanta Singh, and Ajith Kamaraj replacing Roshan Naorem. Mandar Dessai substituted Rakip, who suffered from cramps, in the 75th minute.
Though Mumbai received a penalty kick in the 91st minute, Igor Angulo shot outside the net. The match ended with Bengaluru winning against Mumbai City with 3-0.
(Avya Mathur)