Mumbai: Sunil Chhetri’s goal-scoring spree against his former club Mumbai City FC continued, with a wonderful brace that extended the record to three goals in two matches even as the ‘Islanders’ succumbed to their second successive defeat at home, their third this season.
The 3-1 win took Bengaluru to top of the table, a point above Chennaiyin FC who has played a game less. Mumbai however remained fifth with 14 points, seven points far from their rivals at the top.
It was homecoming for the Indian captain at the Arena and he marked it with two goals that made him the highest Indian goal-scorer in the Indian Super League (ISL) and also increased his tally to seven this season, just two behind compatriot Miku and Ferran Corominas of FC Goa.
The first was a penalty that he had earned all by himself after Balwant Singh shoved him at the back in the 41st minute. It was all Bengaluru until then with Mumbai playing but only in patches. Chhetri had earlier skied a shot after Miku had freed him up just outside the box. But steeped up to take the spot-kick and made no mistake sending Mumbai goalkeeper Amrinder Singh the wrong way.
Balwant however could have well got his name in the scoresheet before that and should have also left the field but none transpired. His header from a Everton Santos flick was powerful but straight at Gurpreet despite being unmarked in the 25th minute and moments later was lucky to be on the pitch, after elbowing Harmanjot Khabra on the face, for which the former was shown just a yellow.
Bengaluru on the other didn’t look to stop any time soon as the likes of Udanta Singh beat Mumbai City defenders for pace on most occasions, combining well with both the Venezuelan Miku and Chhetri up-front and it was one such move that led to the second goal.
Just seven minutes into the second half, Udanta who had been brilliant for the away side dribbled his way into the Mumbai box before squaring the ball for Chhetri, who lifted it over Singh and into the top left corner to score his second of the night and had he not missed the target 11 minutes later from a close range, it could have well be a hat-trick for the little magician on his return to the Arena.
With the home team slowly getting into a shell after going 0-2 behind, it didn’t take long for the visitors to triple their lead and when Mkiu scored from a low powerful free-kick in the 63rd minute, the game had already gone out of Mumbai’s hands.
The hosts did earn a consolation after Leo Costa slid the ball in-between Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s legs, but will overall be very disappointed with the defeat, their third in six home matches this campaign.