ISL 2017: Bengaluru FC 4-1 Delhi Dynamos

ISL 2017: Bengaluru FC 4-1 Delhi Dynamos - Paartalu double helps Eagles ease past Lions

Erik Paartalu notched a brace alongside goals from Lenny Rodrigues and Miku for the home side...

Bengaluru FC thumped Delhi Dynamos 4-1 in their second Indian Super League (ISL) outing at the Kanteerava Stadium on Sunday. Erik Paartalu notched a brace alongside goals from Lenny Rodrigues and Miku for the home side. Kalu Uche's second-half spot-kick was the only consolation for the visitors.

Both the Spaniards in charge, Albert Roca and Miguel Angel, named unchanged lineups, possibly due to a reluctance to tinker with a winning formula.


Bengaluru had two chances to take the lead within the first two minutes – first with Eduardo Garcia feeding the ball to Erik Paartalu before Gabriel Cichero intercepted in time and then Garcia found Miku with a cross, whose header came back off the woodwork.

Rahul Bheke swung in a glorious long ball into the path of Miku, who was aided by Pratik Chowdhary's mistimed jump that allowed the Venezuelan to take an additional touch but his shot was deflected off-target.

In the very next minute, Harmanjot Khabra crossed into the box from the right, and Garcia tried a looping header towards the far post. Albino Gomes was beaten, but so was the frame of the goal.

In the 22nd minute, Vinit Rai made a mickey out of Paartalu to get into shooting range but his weaker foot let him down and Gurpreet Singh was untroubled.
Two minutes later, Paartalu opened the account for the Eagles with a header past Gomes. Garcia’s free-kick from distance was sent into the Australian’s path by Khabra, who nodded it into the net accurately.


Four minutes from the interval, Sunil Chhetri put Garcia through on a one-on-one situation, and it took a brilliant save from Gomes to keep the Spaniard’s left-footed shot out.
The home side piled on the pressure and had a break in stoppage time when Chhetri and Miku led a counter attack, but Cichero managed to cut it out for a corner. Garcia swung in the corner, and Paartalu, for the second time on the night, managed to nod it in the net for his second of the night!

The hosts were making inroads after inroads past a listless Delhi. They bagged their third in the 57th minute after Chhetri’s cross-field ball sent Udanta free. His shot was saved by Gomes, but Lenny Rodrigues sent the rebound into the net.

A minute later the Bengaluru skipper had a chance of his own after being released down the left but he drew a smart save from Gomes.

Delhi had Seityasen Singh and Eduardo Moya come on as they probed a way back into the game while Bengaluru took off the game’s conductor Eduardo Garcia and brought on Toni Dovale. Shortly afterwards, Roca reverted to a five-man defence with Nishu Kumar coming on for the energetic Udanta.

Suicidal play by Moya in the 77th minute nearly led to a fourth for the home side, as he allowed himself to be easily pickpocketed by Miku who ran free on goal. The Venezuelan’s low shot was well-saved by Gomes.

Delhi had a sniff at goal minutes later, when Pritam Kotal swung the ball in towards Kalu Uche but presented with a free header, the Nigerian couldn’t keep it down.
Delhi were awarded a penalty in the 85th minute when John Johnson handled Seityasen’s cross. Uche stepped up and scored, sending Gurpreet the wrong way to bring the deficit down to two goals.

But not for long, as Miku led an 87th minute counter and scored the Eagles’ fourth after cutting inside the box and getting the better of the defenders. Gomes should have done better as the shot was straight at his body but he couldn’t get his hand to it.

The Lions had a late chance for another consolation when Kotal slalomed his way into the box to find Uche. The skipper wasn’t anticipating the pass, allowing Gurpreet to collect the ball.

With the referee’s whistle, Bengaluru maintained their hundred percent start and look like they are the side to beat in this edition of ISL