Chhetri's goal ensures Bengaluru FC stay on top as they overcome East Bengal at Barasat

SUNIL CHHETRI came through for Bengaluru FC yet again to gain them full points from a tough away game. They beat East Bengal by his solitary goal at Barasat Stadium; the Blues' first ever win over the Red and Golds away from home.

East Bengal made 3 changes to the side that overcame DSK Shivajians on Tuesday. Narayan Das, Joaquim Abranches and Samad Ali got a start while Abhinas Ruidas, Rahul Bheke and Saumik Dey took their seat on the bench. 

Ashley Westwood, too, made a number of changes to shake off the defeat against Mumbai FC. He debuted Amrinder Singh in goal, and brought in Seminlen Doungel, Thoi Singh and Malsawmzuala into the first eleven, dropping C.K. Vineeth, Alwyn George and Eugeneson Lyngdoh. It was clear that the league leaders wanted new energy in the midfield and get their momentum back. 

The first few minutes saw some end-to-end action. It was clear that bringing Thoi Singh in had activated Bengaluru FC's wings. He and Seminlen Doungel led an early raid that went out for a corner.

Rehenesh TP, the Red and Gold custodian, got into some early trouble after he fouled Seminlen when off gameplay. He was rightly given a yellow. Minutes later another East Bengal player got booked, this time Samad Ali, for a tackle on Sunil Chhetri. 

Mohammed Rafique led an early attack from the home team that was easily saved by Amrinder. The debutant keeper held his own when a number of shots from Do Dong-hyun, Bikash Jairu and Ranti Martins came his way in quick succession. Ranti Martins came into the picture when a ball from Mehtab Hossain reached him but the striker wastefully sent it wide.

Then Ranti Martins passed it back to Mohammed Rafique who was rushing in from the midfield. His shot from outside the penalty box went off target as well.

Amrinder was tested again by Martins with a lethal shot that was headed for a corner for the post but the keeper dived hard and got his hands to the ball.

After a period of East Bengal attacks, the visitors slowly pulled themselves together. John Johnson's bicycle kick from a corner didn't find the target, neither did Kim Song Youg's shot from Seminlen's cross. But the last few minutes of the first half made it clear that the latter period will see the Federation Cup winners shift to a more aggressive posture.

The second half heated up fro the beginning with Do Dong-hyun taking aim from scoring range but the ball got cleared. Sunil Chhetri stepped up his act, as he made a threatening run into the East Bengal box after Sampingraj's cross reached him, but Rehenesh TP pulled off a great block to deny him.

But Sunil was clearly looming large on the game. He took another shot soon and missed.

Do Dong-hyun almost scored for the home team with a shot from outside the box but Amrinder made a great save. The ball went to Joaquim who fired it back in but the keeper was quickly on his feet after the first save and got in the way of the second shot as well.

And then Sunil Chhetri broke the deadlock. A ball from Rino Anto saw Sunil in possession inside the opponent box, relatively unmarked. He found the net rather easily. It was one nil to Bengaluru FC. For the first time, the Blues had scored a goal against the Red and Golds at their own backyard.

East Bengal tried hard. Rafique tried his luck with a long shot. Then Bheke did the same. The Bengaluru FC defenders were standing strong and not allowing the East Bengal players enough room to get close. When Do Dong-hyun made a threatening run he got caught offside.

But the Calcutta Football League winners came close when Bikash Jairu fed Ranti Martins inside the box. The Nigerian's shot was fisted away by Amrinder and it came back to Jairu who let fly, just wide of the post. It was a brilliant opportunity that went begging.

Dong-hyun led the attack again as he crossed to Rafique who fed the substitute Cavin Lobo. Lobo took the shot and it went over the crossbar.

In the last few minutes Bengaluru FC slowed the game down. They made quick substitutions and passed the ball around in the midfield. Vineeth, who had been brought on for Seminlen, fancied a chance but Rehenesh saved it. But the away team didn't mind that as the final whistle came in to signal that they had managed to beat East Bengal at their own backyard for the very first time.

The jinx was broken and the break in momentum overcome. Bengaluru FC made sure that they would remain at the top of the table this matchweek, with 12 points from 5 matches. 

For East Bengal, who had remained unbeaten for a few difficult away games till now, it was a disappointing end of that run. Although their defence did fight hard against Bengaluru forwards, the mistake in marking ultimately let them down. But in the attack, both their star foreigners, Do Dong-hyun and Ranti Martins, failed to impress. On 8 points from 5 matches, they are running the risk of falling behind in the title race if Mohun Bagan hold their own away from home.