BENGALURU, INDIA: Punjab FC caused a major upset when they defeated Bengaluru FC 2-0 in the 17th match of the ongoing Indian Super League at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, February 27. A first-half brace from Nsungusi Effiong Jr was enough for the Shers to pick up all three points on their way to winning for the first time ever at this venue.
Punjab crept forward in the 20th minute of the game thanks to an effusive header by centre-forward Effiong. Capitalising on a cross from Manglenthang Kipgen coming in from the right flank, the Nigerian jumped above Bengaluru’s Nikhil Poojary before heading the ball with immense force past goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
Bengaluru FC tried to counter almost immediately, and even won a corner, but fell short by skying the ball into the night sky. In the 32nd minute, Punjab doubled their lead after midfielder Ricky Shabong dispossessed his opposite number, Suresh Singh Wangjam. The resultant pass found its way to Dani Ramirez, who set Effiong up wide on the left flank.
The latter took a composed first touch, waited just about for Chinglensana Singh to be interested, and then fired it in with his left foot past Sandhu’s outstretched arms. Not much after the half-hour mark, the visitors had quietened the home support by taking a two-goal lead; the Blues, meanwhile, seemed awfully ill-equipped to fight back.
Bengaluru FC’s lack of precision in the final third cost them big time
Towards the end of the first half, Lalremtuanga Fanai kept his calm in a one-on-one battle with Effiong and set Ashique Kuruniyan up on the wings. The former Mohun Bagan man sped through the ranks like a flash of lightning, but failed to make good with the resultant strike, sending it miles above the goalpost.Had Kuruniyan taken his head up, he would have seen Sivasakthi Narayanan and Ryan Williams positioned extremely well inside the box.
It was errors of such magnitude that sealed Bengaluru’s fate on Friday. 13 minutes into the second half, Bengaluru FC created their biggest chance of the game when Williams bypassed his marker Muhammad Uvais on the right wing. Speeding forward, he sent a searing grounded ball to Sunil Chhetri inside the box, only for the latter to miss this sitter and sky it above the goalpost.
Chhetri flattered to deceive again, in the 80th minute, when he sent a free kick far wide of the goalpost, leaving the 9,000-strong crowd at the Kanteerava shaking their heads in disbelief. While Bengaluru FC’s intent of trying to score was never in any doubt, the lack of quality in their final third was disheartening, both for their supporters and their management. With this win, Punjab climb to the 6th spot of the table with 6 points, whereas Bengaluru fall to 7th with 4 points inside their bag.
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