Bengaluru: In their first match of the season, Bengaluru FC, sporting their new pink outfit, thrashed Shillong Lajong FC 3-0 at the Kanteerava Stadium. This was loudly cheered by the supporters who with a poster urging team for the third star on the crest, witnessed their favorite team win convincingly.
Into the match Bengaluru started in 4-3-3 formation, with an all-India attack comprising of Udanta, skipper Sunil Chhetri, and Daniel. They gave opportunity to newcomers, Lenny Rodrigues, Harmanjot Khabra, Sena Ralte in the start.
On the other hand, Shillong started with eight U-22 players keeping Dipanda Dicka on the bench. The first 20 minutes witnessed a lacklustre show with both teams failing to make any intrusion in opponents’ defence.
Enter 26th minute of the match, when a corner from Eugenson opened the goal for the steelmen – the strikers failed to connect to head from Eugenson’s delivery, went to the Daniel who was on the other end, the later tricked a Shillong defender and floated the ball into the box, which the strikers again failed to connect. Adding to the misery, SLFC defenders failed to clear the ball, and in the melee, Udanta tapped the ball to the back of the net.
This goal energized the Bengaluru FC team, meaning that they forayed into the opponents’ defence many times making them jittery, Vishal Kaith’s timely intervention, prevented them from scoring. They almost got their second goal in the last minute before the lemon break, Eugenson missing a one-on-one with the keeper, the follow up from Chhetri hit the post, while Vishal was not in the position.
The AFC finalists continued pressing after changing ends, owing to some shabby defending by the highlanders. They got the second goal again via Udanta in the 68th minute. Lajong barely looked threatening as the ball rarely crossed the half-line. The best of all goal was kept until the 79th minute, when debutant Sena Ralte hit season’s first exciting goal with a 30-yard smasher.
Udanta’s brace made him easy pick for the man of the match award.