Bengaluru's FC settle for draw against intense NEUFC in Indian Super League

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC had to be content with just a point as they played an entertaining 1-1 draw against a dominant NorthEast United FC in their second Indian Super League match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

Braian Sanchez’s 18th-minute ground shot from 20-odd yards for the hosts was nullified by a venomous volley by NEUFC substitute Lalrinzuala Hauhnar in the 67th minute as both sides left the field at the full time with the feeling that three points were there for taking.

NEUFC, however, looked more eager for their first win of the season, especially after going down 0-3 in their season opener to East Bengal in Kolkata last week. Two shots to the woodwork and plenty of diving saves from BFC’s ever-reliant shot-stopper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made that abundantly evident to a boisterous 13,623 fans present at the venue.

BFC, on the other hand, were handed a body blow before kick-off as their most-experienced centre-back Rahul Bheke sat out the game due to a knock on his knee and was replaced by young debutant Takhellambam Bungson Singh, revealing the thin defensive squad strength of the Blues.

That reflected from the first minute of the match as NEUFC hit the ground running. The Juan Pedro Benali-coached visiting side bombarded BFC’s defensive third with one attack after another. Both of NEUFC’s expected threats MS Jithin and Parthib Gogoi came too close to comfort for BFC. Especially when forward Gogoi’s shot forced a save out of the Gurpreet in the second minute.

The best chance, however, fell to NEUFC’s centre-back Michel Zabaco whose threatening header from the six-yard box following a corner beat Gurpreet but not the left post.

NEUFC went on to win three more corners and an opportunity from open play in the first 15 minutes but the hosts luckily weathered the early storm to take the lead against the run of play.

The goal came off a solo effort by Argentine midfielder Braian who used his silky feet to closer to the ball before unleashing a low shot from the outside the box into the left-bottom corner.

The goal brought much-needed calm in BFC’s approach, who started taking control of the tempo of the game while the NEUFC’s intensity subsidised. They, however, still looked dangerous, especially in set-piece situations, including long throws into the box.

The best of it fell to Zabaco again as the Spanish defender lunged into a beautifully placed indirect freekick but only to rattle the crossbar.

That let off was only indication of things to come in the second half as NEUFC returned with sharper intensity, similar to their first-half burst. Despite resistance from a mostly airborne Gurpreet, who made one diving save after another, the Highlanders equalised through impact substitute Lalrinzuala Hauhnar, who volleyed the ball into the net following a pin-point long ball by centre-back Asheer Akhtar from the back.

The match only opened up from here as BFC, who preferred absorbing all the pressure by defending as a unit to protect the slender lead, went on an offensive mode, especially with Sunil Chhetri joining the attack.

NEUFC weren’t settling for a draw either with all the momentum on their side as fans were treated to an enthralling end-to-end action.

While Gurpreet kept himself big to save more, BFC had their telling back-to-back late chances with Ryan Williams and  Lalremtluanga Fanai hitting the crossbar and post respectively after Ashique Kuruniyan opened up the defense with a mazy run from the left.

A flurry of changes in the injury time affected the flow of the game, eventually leading to no further clear chances to the full-time whistle.