<p>Roby Norales made a dream debut as he netted for defending champions Bengaluru Football Club in a 2-0 victory over a resolute Chennai City FC in their second I-League fixture at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Honduran, who joined the Blues a day before the season began, replaced Mandar Rao Dessai in the 58th minute and broke the deadlock with a strike in the 77th minute.<br /><br />Albert Roca's tactical prowess was on display as his side extended their lead through another substitute, CK Vineeth, who struck a superb goal two minutes after Norales.<br />Bengaluru continue to top the standings with six points from their two outings, ahead of Mohun Bagan only on goal difference, while Chennai find themselves in seventh.<br /><br />It wasn't easy for the home side in the first half even though they peppered the opposition goal with a barrage of attacks but Chennai's custodian Karanjit Singh kept his side in the game.<br /><br />Roca's men had their first clear chance in the sixth minute when Harmanjot Singh Khabra cushioned a nice floated ball from Lenny Rodrigues to Sunil Chhetri. Chhetri’s shot deflected off Dhanpal Ganesh and almost sneaked in for an own goal but it was eventually cleared by a defender.<br /><br />Karanjit was then tested for the first time four minutes later as Dessai moved his way past a couple of defenders and lifted a cross to Udanta Singh, who was in the thick of things in the first half. The 20-year-old laid it off to striker Daniel Lalhlimpuia whose shot was well saved by Karanjit, who had to be at full stretch.<br /><br />BFC came knocking again in the 26th minute when skipper Chhetri linked up with Lalhlimpuia but the striker's effort was once again thwarted by Karanjit.<br /><br />Chennai began to settle down after the 30th minute and slowly started restricting Bengaluru in the midfield.<br /><br />The visitors would have definitely been the happier side at the break, having held the defending champions goalless.<br /><br />The second half was largely uneventful till the 77th minute when the 12,000-odd crowd was sent into raptures. Chennai failed to deal with Eugeneson Lyngdoh's free-kick from a central position. After a melee in front of the goal, the ball fell to Norales, who was unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box and the forward made to mistake in slotting the ball past a helpless Karanjit.<br /><br />Chhetri's men almost immediately doubled their lead after defender John Johnson released Udanta on the right flank. The diminutive Manipuri then played a well weighted cross to Vineeth, who had made a darting run into the box. The BFC striker’s first-time shot beat the Chennai goalkeeper hands down, as the home fans celebrated.<br /><br />East Bengal win<br /><br />Meanwhile, Haitian striker Wedson Anselme and Trinidad Tobago’s Willis Plaza struck on either side of the break as Kolkata giants East Bengal logged home three crucial away points beating DSK Shivajians 2-1 in the second round encounter in Pune.<br /><br />Trevor James Morgan’s side now have four points from two games. For the Shivajians, stopper Gourmangi Singh had equalised in the 64th minute after Wedson had converted a penalty in the 13th minute.<br /><br />Plaza scored the winner, 10 minutes from the final whistle.<br /></p>
<p>Roby Norales made a dream debut as he netted for defending champions Bengaluru Football Club in a 2-0 victory over a resolute Chennai City FC in their second I-League fixture at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Honduran, who joined the Blues a day before the season began, replaced Mandar Rao Dessai in the 58th minute and broke the deadlock with a strike in the 77th minute.<br /><br />Albert Roca's tactical prowess was on display as his side extended their lead through another substitute, CK Vineeth, who struck a superb goal two minutes after Norales.<br />Bengaluru continue to top the standings with six points from their two outings, ahead of Mohun Bagan only on goal difference, while Chennai find themselves in seventh.<br /><br />It wasn't easy for the home side in the first half even though they peppered the opposition goal with a barrage of attacks but Chennai's custodian Karanjit Singh kept his side in the game.<br /><br />Roca's men had their first clear chance in the sixth minute when Harmanjot Singh Khabra cushioned a nice floated ball from Lenny Rodrigues to Sunil Chhetri. Chhetri’s shot deflected off Dhanpal Ganesh and almost sneaked in for an own goal but it was eventually cleared by a defender.<br /><br />Karanjit was then tested for the first time four minutes later as Dessai moved his way past a couple of defenders and lifted a cross to Udanta Singh, who was in the thick of things in the first half. The 20-year-old laid it off to striker Daniel Lalhlimpuia whose shot was well saved by Karanjit, who had to be at full stretch.<br /><br />BFC came knocking again in the 26th minute when skipper Chhetri linked up with Lalhlimpuia but the striker's effort was once again thwarted by Karanjit.<br /><br />Chennai began to settle down after the 30th minute and slowly started restricting Bengaluru in the midfield.<br /><br />The visitors would have definitely been the happier side at the break, having held the defending champions goalless.<br /><br />The second half was largely uneventful till the 77th minute when the 12,000-odd crowd was sent into raptures. Chennai failed to deal with Eugeneson Lyngdoh's free-kick from a central position. After a melee in front of the goal, the ball fell to Norales, who was unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box and the forward made to mistake in slotting the ball past a helpless Karanjit.<br /><br />Chhetri's men almost immediately doubled their lead after defender John Johnson released Udanta on the right flank. The diminutive Manipuri then played a well weighted cross to Vineeth, who had made a darting run into the box. The BFC striker’s first-time shot beat the Chennai goalkeeper hands down, as the home fans celebrated.<br /><br />East Bengal win<br /><br />Meanwhile, Haitian striker Wedson Anselme and Trinidad Tobago’s Willis Plaza struck on either side of the break as Kolkata giants East Bengal logged home three crucial away points beating DSK Shivajians 2-1 in the second round encounter in Pune.<br /><br />Trevor James Morgan’s side now have four points from two games. For the Shivajians, stopper Gourmangi Singh had equalised in the 64th minute after Wedson had converted a penalty in the 13th minute.<br /><br />Plaza scored the winner, 10 minutes from the final whistle.<br /></p>
