Sunil Chhetri, Bengaluru rise to occasion

Bengaluru FC continued ir supremacy over FC Goa with a 2-1 win in an engrossing Indian Super League encounter in Bengaluru on Friday.

After a goalless first-half that visitors dominated, Bengaluru took lead through captain Sunil Chhetri (59').

Goa equalised through Hugo Boumous (61') only to see Chhetri grab winner in 83rd minute, which was Bengaluru's fifth win in seven ISL games against Goa.

result sees Bengaluru rise to second spot with 19 points from 11 games, just two shy of FC Goa who continue to top table.

It were visitors who saw more of ball and looked likely to create an opening. However, Bengaluru first tested Mohammad Nawaz in 11th minute after Rahul Bheke cut inside from left but his attempt was parried over.

Midway through half, Boumous got into thick of action as he dribbled past a few blue shirts to get into box, but Albert Serran just about won ball.

However, Ferran Corominas picked up pieces and went past two Bengaluru centre-backs, only for a timely intervention from Bheke to clear danger.

In 35th minute, from a short corner, Nishu Kumar's long-range drive was palmed away by Nawaz with Mandar Rao Dessai picking up pieces.

Lenny Rodrigues had best chance in first half as he was in a one-on-one situation with Gurpreet but goalkeeper came off his line to clear to keep scoreline at 0-0.

Bengaluru started to claw ir way back into game after restart as tempo of game picked up. Blues' attackers found a lot of and troubled Goan defence on a few occasions before y took lead in 59th minute.

Chhetri was left unmarked as Dimas Delgado picked him out from a corner. His powerful header was let in by Nawaz who could t get down in time to keep ball out.

However, Goa hit back within two minutes. Boumous took matters into his own hands with a driving run down left before exchanging passes with Mandar and Ferran Corominas. A deft touch from Corominas sent Boumous bearing down on goal and he finished with aplomb to make it 1-1.

see-saw nature of game continued with both sides going for winner. Erik Paartalu saw a header from a corner fly just high while Jackichand Singh found to shoot inside area, only to fire wide.

However, it were Bengaluru who grabbed winner in 83rd minute after FC Goa failed to clear ir lines during a Bengaluru counter. After both Seriton Fernandes and Mandar failed to clear a pass from deep, Chhetri pounced and raced away before tucking a neat finish past Nawaz to seal all three points for Bengaluru.