ISL 5: Sunil Chhetri’s brace helps Bengaluru rout sloppy FC Pune

Sunil Chhetri scored a brace, while Miku scored another as a dominant Bengaluru FC routed Pune City 3-0 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium on Monday.

Chhetri scored twice in two minutes, the first coming four minutes before half-time, as Bengaluru climbed to the top of the table with seven points from three games. Pune remained ninth still without their first victory and with just one point after the same number of games.

Bengaluru extended their unbeaten streak to three matches having won one and drawn the other. Their first opportunity to score came in the 15^th minute when Matt Mills allowed Miku to escape but the Venezuelan placed his shot over the bar after dribbling his way into the box.

Marcelinho then came close for FC Pune with a dipping free-kick that looked destined for the top-right corner but was somehow kept out by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. It was Dimas Delgado next when his in-swinging corner found Chhetri unmarked inside the box but the striker’s header sailed over the bar.

Chhetri was once again at it when Udanta Singh’s cross found him but yet again his shot evaded the goal. But the India captain made amends in the 41^st getting to the end of Delgado long-ball before skipping past Sarthak Golui and slotting the ball home.

Two minutes later Chhetri doubled the lead when another long ball from the back evaded Pune’s defence-line. Miku pounced on it and released Chhetri, who skidded past Sarthak Golui before doubling the lead.

Pune had struggled until then and with the goals – both came within two minutes of each other – coming so fast between themselves, they looked further pushed backwards and Bengaluru made most it. Udanta’s blistering pace was always trouble and it further looked to put them into a hole when Udanta intercepted a pass and flicked the ball over for Miku, who despite the allocated time failed to make a shot.

But Miku’s continuous persistence eventually paid off in the 64^th minute. Albert Serran’s ball for Miku was not on point but the Spaniard outmuscled Sahil Panwar to slam the ball home.

Also Read: Serie A: Mauro Icardi nets late winner as Inter edge out Milan in derby