DURAND CUP 2024: Bengaluru FC’s victorious start to the 133rd edition of the Durand Cup. A dominating win over the Indian Navy FT with four-nil scoreline. After announcing his retirement from International Football, a month ago India’s captain leader legend Sunil Chhetri has played his last international match here. Today Vivekanand Yuba Bharati Krirangan witnessed his aura and comeback again.
Starting from the kickoff Bengaluru FC played an aggressive, forward-focused game, consistently pushing into the Indian Navy FT’s half and creating numerous scoring opportunities till the last whistle. Throughout the match Indian Navy FT took only three shots and none of those were on target.
Within five minutes Bengaluru FC created two goal scoring chance, and before ending the first quarter of the match they got their first goal. At 11’th minute from Alberto Noguera’s corner Rahul Bheke headed the ball into back of the net.
At 37th minute Sivashakti got injured and, got replaced by Sunil Chhetri, he came to the field before the half time, that’s the moment all the Indian’s were waiting for. Within three minutes inside the box Navjot committed a foul on Ryan Willams and received a red card, Sunil Chhetri took that penalty and scored the second goal for the blues. The first half ended with two down for the Indian Navy side.
In the second half, Bengaluru FC resumed their game with that same attacking force, at 55’th minute from an attack, Sunil Chhetri almost getting an one-on-one chance with INFT keeper Vishnu, but the ball goes a bit out of control, with that ball Rayn Williams tried to took a shot but, got managed by the keeper. At 72’nd minute BFC’s new signing Pereyra Diaz took a long ranger shot from out of the box but it went straight to the INFT’s goalkeeper’s hand. From another corner Sunil Chhetri passed the ball to Pereyra Diaz and he scored the third goal for Bengaluru FC, the header came at 80’th minute.
BFC still attacking constantly with the ball and played entirely in INFT’s half. In the additional time at 90+2’nd minute Pereyra Diaz added one more goal in the scoreline, the fourth and final goal for Bengaluru FC. From the midfield he started run with the ball, create space and placed the ball from the second post into back of the net, and sealed the first win for Bengaluru FC with 4-0 scoreline against ten men down Indian Navy FT.
Bengaluru FC’s new signing debutant Pereyra Diaz came to the field in the second half and scored a brace for his new club. Throughout the ninety minutes Indian Navy FT could have been concede more than four goals but their goalkeeper Vishnu played well, and saved so many good shots. Today’s Man of the Match was Rahul Bheke with one goal and with a hard performance.
Key statistics Bengaluru FC vs Indian Navy FT:
BALL POSSESSION: BFC 65%, INFT 35%
SHOTS: BFC 21, INFT 3
SHOTS ON TARGET: BFC 12, INFT 0
FOULS: BFC 11, INFT 5
YELLOW CARDS: BFC 2, INFT 1
RED CARD: BFC 0, INFT 1
CORNERS: BFC 7, INFT 2
OFFSIDES: BFC 2, INFT 0
