JOIN USBengaluru FC made a big statement of intent, beating a strong East Bengal side 1-0 after skipper Sunil Chhetri tapped home in the 60th minute to sink an otherwise noisy Barasat Stadium into silence as the Blues made sure they left Kolkata as table toppers, on Saturday.
The win also saw the former champions open a two-point lead on top of the table. Bengaluru occupy the top spot with 12 points from their five games, while reigning champions Mohun Bagan are second with 10 points from their four games.
The Mariners also enjoyed a fruitful day as they beat new entrants DSK Shivajians 2-0 in Pune. The Kolkata outfit was led by a brace from their prolific striker Sony Norde who scored in either halves to inflict pain on a DSK who ended the game with just 10 men on the field.
East Bengal find themselves in the fourth place with eight points from their five games.
Most of the talk building up to the game revolved around the fact that Bengaluru FC had never scored against East Bengal in Kolkata, let alone beat them. And Rino Anto, addressing the question in the pre-match press conference, vowed that both the jinxes would be broken. It was only fair that the right-back provided the assist for the goal.
Ashley Westwood went into the game with a fairly altered starting XI from the side that was beaten 2-0 in Mumbai on Wednesday. Amrinder Singh was handed his debut in goal while Len Doungel earned his first start.
Young Malsawmzuala and Thoi Singh were the other two changes that the gaffer effected, in midfield after Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s knock on his ankle that he picked from the Mumbai game, hadn’t healed completely.
Chhetri, who missed a good chance in the 40th minute, made amends on the hour mark, turning up at the right place and at the right time to tap in Rino Anto’s cross that sank Barasat into silence.