Photo Credit: ISL Media
FULL-TIME: Bengaluru FC 1-0 Kerala Blasters FC
Bengaluru FC: 55′ Sunil Chhetri
Venue: Sree Kanteerava Stadium
STARTING XI
MATCH FACTS
| BFC | vs | KBFC |
| 49% | possession | 51% |
| 64% | pass accuracy | 69% |
| 1 | goals | 0 |
| 4 | offsides | 2 |
| 3 | shots on target | 0 |
| 2 | shots off target | 4 |
| 11 | fouls | 18 |
| 10 | crosses | 10 |
| 6 | corners | 4 |
| 0 | red cards | 0 |
| 1 | yellow cards | 4 |
EXPECTED GOALS [xG]
xG Analysis by Amrit
- Tight first half with both teams fighting hard in the middle, but BFC were far superior in the second.
- Kerala tried to press hard but if the press was beaten, the defense tended to drop off too deep.
- Jeakson and Cido really struggled to cope against BFC’s numbers.
- 4 cleanies in 5 games for BFC.
TALKING POINTS
The travelling Kerala Blasters pressed to impress in the first half, but a dominant second half performance by the Blues helped them to a narrow, yet comfortable win.
- The Blasters started the game well and pressed Bengaluru high up on the pitch and dispossessed them often. Offensively, the centre-backs looked to lob the ball in front into the path of Messi Bouli and Bart Ogbeche.
- The early part of the second half saw Bengaluru create a clutch of opportunities. Eventually, a corner setpiece saw an unmarked Sunil Chhetri run into the box and score past Rehenesh with a diving header seven yards out.
- Kerala couldn’t co-ordinate well enough to find the equaliser and the match ended without them hitting a shot on target.
- Stricken by injuries – especially in defence, Kerala fielded only three foreign players in their starting XI. The centre-backs Abdul Hakku and Raju Gaikwad gave a decent account of themselves against a potent Bengaluru attack – although they were guilty of defending too deep on occasion.
- With the win, BFC move into second place on the ISL table and they haven’t conceded a goal yet from open play.
- It’s back to the drawing board for the Blasters – with today’s loss, it’s been four games since they’ve won a game and they have a tough challenge in FC Goa next.
HIGHLIGHTS
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