ISL: ATK Bagan, Bengaluru play out a thrilling draw

Bengaluru FC
Bengaluru FC players celebrate Prince Iabra's goal. Photo: ISL

Bambolim (Goa): Bengaluru FC and ATK Mohun Bagan played out an exciting  3-3 draw in the Indian Super League here on Thursday.

 

The result stretches Bengaluru FC's winless run to six matches and further extends Mohun Bagan's run to four games without a win.

Subhasish Bose (13') broke the deadlock early on with a well-placed header before Cleiton Silva (18') scored from a penalty to level the score for Bengaluru. Danish Farooq (26') scored his first-ever goal in the competition to send the Blues into the lead but Hugo Boumos (38') turned up to draw level for the Mariners. Roy Krishna (58') also got on the scoresheet as he converted a second-half penalty but Prince Ibara (72') equalised with his second goal of the season.

Sunil Chhetri was benched while Ashique Kuruniyan was slotted in a more offensive role. ATK Mohun Bagan started on the front foot and had a goal disallowed for offside in the first seven minutes. Following sustained pressure, Bose gave his team the lead after connecting with a corner and heading the ball past Gurpreet Sandhu.

Within a few minutes after conceding the goal, BFC were awarded a penalty when Liston Colaco brought down Silva inside the box. The Brazilian stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to bring the game to level terms.

Just before the half-hour mark, the scorer then turned provider as Danish Farooq found the back of the net with a header from Silva's corner for his first-ever goal in the ISL. Post the drinks break, ATKMB scored against the run of play with Krishna feeding Boumos with a perfectly weighted through pass and the attacker effortlessly scored with his left foot by slotting the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.

The second half got off to a more cautious start from each side. Referee Crystal John saw an infringement in the box by Ibara and awarded a penalty to ATKMB which was easily scored by Krishna just before the hour mark. The villain then turned hero as Ibara scored with a powerful header from a corner taken by Roshan Naorem.

Four minutes were added after the regulation period but neither team deserved to lose and shared the points after a great contest.

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