March 02 2016, 22.37 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
Blues Put On Commanding Show To Move A Point Within Bagan
Shillong: Bengaluru FC turned up with a stellar display, just the kind the situation demanded; after goals from Udanta Singh and Kim Song gave the Blues a 2-0 win over Shillong Lajong at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Shillong. The win, Bengaluru's first against Lajong away from home, took Ashley Westwood's side to within a point of leaders Mohun Bagan who played out a 1-1 draw with Sporting Clube de Goa on Tuesday.
Udanta, handed another start by Westwood after the win over Aizawl, justified the gaffer's faith with a man-of-the-match display that saw him score one and assist the other goal. After an assured spell of dominance, Bengaluru got their lead in the 36th minute. Having won a free-kick in his own half, Curtis Osano launched his take in the box that was brought down for Udanta by Song Yong's header. With two defenders around him, Udanta's attempted strike on the swivel didn't quite connect. But with the ball still at his feet, the youngster grabbed a second chance gleefully, slotting past 'keeper Vishal Kaith.
The Blues could have had a definite second two minutes to half-time but it needed Kaith to pull off a fantastic save from a free-kick that Sunil Chhetri had done everything right to bend over the wall and send homeward.
Bengaluru's second came from one of their many corners on the night when Song Yong rose to nod in Udanta's take, making it his fourth goal in the League. The striker had scored a brace when Lajong had traveled to the Kanteerava earlier in the season.
Westwood has constantly been talking of rotating the squad given the punishing schedule and saw the gaffer swing as many as four changes to the starting XI that beat Aizawl FC, in Bengaluru. Kim Song Yong, Thoi Singh, Lalchhuanmawia and Shankar Sampingiraj replaced Len Doungel, CK Vineeth who didn't make the trip with a sore groin, Malsawmzuala and Keegan Pereira.
Amrinder, who didn't have much to do all night, was called into action keeping out a Fabio Pena shot after the Brazilian capitalized on Thoi Singh failing to clear before stealing from the midfielder and firing on target.
Earlier, Samuel Lalmuanpuia's shot ricocheted off the crossbar in the 47th minute, but spare these two chances, Lajong had no say at all with the Blues' defence giving absolutely nothing away to Pena and Samuel in attack. Bengaluru next make the trip to Goa where they take on Sporting Clube de Goa on Sunday.
Bengaluru FC striker Udanta Singh in action against Shillong Lajong
at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Shillong, on Wednesday.
