Aggressive Bharat FC slip to unlucky 1-0 defeat to Bengaluru FC

A refined and aggressive Bharat FC were unlucky to slip to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Bengaluru FC on Sunday night at the Shree Kanteerava stadium. Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s 77th minute goal gave Bengaluru the three points on the night and consigned Bharat FC to their second defeat in this season of the Hero I-League.

A disappointed Stuart Watkiss said that he believed the better team lost the match. “We played some really good football, battled hard but we were undone by one little lapse in concentration. I wouldn’t fault the lads for the effort. Bengaluru FC are the Champions and they just find a way to win matches. I want my team to start doing that,” he said. With this defeat, Bharat FC find themselves in 10th spot while Bengaluru FC climb to sixth place.

Bharat FC made a very aggressive start with Kris Bright being presented with a golden opportunity in the first minute itself. Bengaluru FC’s central defender, Curtis Osano, misplaced a back-pass and Bright was let through on goal with only goalkeeper Lalthuammawia Ralte to beat. The 28-year-old Bright inexplicably dragged his shot wide, squandering a gilt-edged chance to put his team into a deserved lead.

In the tenth minute, Lester Fernandez picked up the ball in midfield and danced his way to the edge of the box. With the Bengaluru FC defense retreating, Fernandez seemed to consider his options before deciding to shoot himself. The moment of contemplation seemed to have cost him, as John Johnson managed to get across to make a block.

Bharat FC continued to pile on the pressure with midfielder Bobby Hassell in imperious touch. The 34-year-old rolled back the years, producing a vintage display as he dictated the play from a deep position in central midfield. In the 28th minute, Hassell released Subash on the right with a sublime chipped pass but the attacker’s cross found its way straight into the arms of Ralte.

The Lions continued to dominate, stringing together cohesive moves from midfield but were hamstrung by a lack of potency up front. Kris Bright was presented another chance in the 34th minute off a free kick but the striker could not manage to get enough power behind his header directing it once again to Ralte.

Both teams went into the break tied goalless. Bharat FC made the brighter start in the second half, Subash Singh sending in a couple of dangerous crosses but the forward line seemed to be    missing that half a yard of pace, failing to get on the end of the balls.

Bengaluru FC introduced CK Vineeth in the 63rd minute for Beikhokhei Bengaichho and the move seemed to pay immediate dividends. Vineeth, operating on the right managed to stretch the Bharat FC defense, often sliding in dangerous passes for the attacking duo of Sunil Chhetri and Robin Singh.

The Blues finally found a breakthrough in the 77th minute with the creative Eugeneson Lyngdoh finding an inch of space 15 yards from the Bharat FC goal. Lyngdoh dropped his shoulder, cut the ball inside to wrong-foot Ravanan Dharmaraj and then executed a perfect chip into the roof of the net to give his side the lead.

Bharat FC pushed hard in the last ten minutes with the crafty Steven Dias working hard on right flank and combining well with Mehrajuddin Wadoo. Bharat FC perhaps had their best chance to level matters in the 86th minute off a Steven Dias corner. The perfectly weighted ball found Romuald Boco at the far post and Boco’s return into the box was greeted by a clutch of bodies. However, the decisive final touch seemed to be missing, a problem that affected Bharat FC adversely over the course of the entire game.