Bengaluru FC recorded their third win in five Indian Super League games to go fourth in the points table. The Blues beat Kerala Blasters at the Tilak Maidan on Friday night, courtesy of a sensational free-kick from left-back Naorem Roshan Singh.
Having lost four of their starting six games in the ongoing league campaign, Bengaluru are unbeaten in eight since. The Blues recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Kerala Blasters, ending their nine-match unbeaten streak.
The two teams were matched in terms of intensity and efforts, producing an end-to-end first half but with few clear-cut opportunities. Sunil Chhetri, a goal away from being the outright top scorer in the tournament’s history, sent his free-kick just over the bar in the tenth minute; at the other end, Jorge Pereyra Diaz was inches away from connecting with an Adrian Luna cross from the left, that had evaded defenders on its way into the corridor of uncertainty, just in front of the goalkeeper.
The best chances of the half fell to Bengaluru. In the 20th minute, Udanta Singh delivered a low cross from the left, which Chhetri left for Danish Farooq Bhat but the midfielder, perhaps not expecting the ball to reach him, scuffed his shot.
Minutes later, Prince Ibara headed a set-piece delivery off target despite being in a good position and getting a jump on his marker. Later still, Nishu Kumar saved Kerala’s blushes by clearing the ball off the line after a scramble inside the box – and with Chhetri lurking nearby.
#AboutLastNight: Naorem Roshan Singh's magic puts @bengalurufc in the 🔝4️⃣#HeroISL fans, drop a 🔥 for this wizardry in #KBFCBFC#LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/uQcPdETqhc
— Star Sports Football (@StarFootball) January 31, 2022
Bengaluru continued to create opportunities in the second half. In the 50th minute, Prabhukhan Gill got down quickly to prevent Chhetri from squeezing the ball in at his near post. However, the custodian could only watch in anguish as Roshan curled a sensational free-kick into the net six minutes later, giving the Blues the lead.
Kerala retaliated, catching Bengaluru goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu by surprise on a couple of occasions, but the Indian international stood firm and repelled their efforts. Late in the match, latching onto a reverse pass by Udanta, forward Cleiton Silva dragged his shot wide. But, Bengaluru wouldn’t have had to regret the late miss, as they held onto their narrow lead to see out the win.
