Bengaluru FC secured a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Football Arena (MFA) on Wednesday night. The Blues’ goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, put in an exceptional performance to deny the hosts, helping his side maintain their unbeaten streak and hold on to the top spot in the standings with 10 points from four games.
Sandhu’s heroics underlined Bengaluru’s defensive resilience as he thwarted multiple goal-scoring chances from the Islanders, who dominated large spells of the game. Mumbai City FC, struggling to find their rhythm this season, have now managed only two points from three games and remain in the lower half of the table, currently positioned 11th.
Mumbai City FC’s Early Pressure
Mumbai City FC came out with purpose, looking to assert control early on, but Sandhu was a brick wall they couldn’t break through. One of the earliest threats came from Hmingthanmawia Ralte’s curling cross in the 13th minute, met powerfully by Nikolaos Karelis. The towering striker directed a solid header towards goal, but Sandhu anticipated the move perfectly, diving to make a crucial save.
The Islanders didn’t let up, continuing to press forward. In the 25th minute, they earned a set-piece opportunity with Yoell van Nieff delivering a well-placed cross. Tiri, lurking at the far post, directed a sharp header on target, but once again Sandhu reacted swiftly, closing down the angle and parrying the shot to safety, frustrating the home side’s hopes of an opener.
Bengaluru Responds, Lachenpa Stands Firm
Bengaluru FC, though largely on the defensive, showed flashes of danger on the counterattack. In the 32nd minute, former Mumbai City FC midfielder Alberto Noguera provided a pinpoint delivery to Edgar Mendez, who directed his effort on target. But Phurba Lachenpa, Mumbai City FC’s goalkeeper, was equal to the task, displaying lightning reflexes to deny Bengaluru their best chance of the half.
Mumbai responded with more pressure as the half-time whistle loomed. Jeremy Manzorro showcased his individual brilliance, dribbling past multiple defenders before firing a shot from the edge of the box. His powerful effort, however, went narrowly wide, keeping the game goalless at the break.
Second-Half Stalemate
The second half continued in a similar vein, with both sides creating chances but failing to find the finishing touch. Bengaluru’s Naorem Roshan Singh whipped in a dangerous cross to Mendez in the 56th minute, only for the striker’s header to fly off target. Despite the evenly balanced nature of the contest in the latter stages, neither team could carve out a clear opportunity.
Substitutions for both teams in the final 15 minutes, including the introductions of Sivasakthi Narayanan for Bengaluru and Bipin Singh for Mumbai, provided fresh energy but no breakthrough. Sivasakthi attempted a speculative shot from a tight angle in the 94th minute, but it sailed over the bar, leaving both sides to settle for a point after five minutes of stoppage time.
Sandhu: Bengaluru’s Defensive Pillar
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was the standout performer of the night, completing 24 out of 39 passes, making four crucial saves, and contributing two clearances. His commanding presence in goal ensured that Bengaluru returned home with a valuable point, extending their unbeaten run.
Upcoming Fixtures
Bengaluru FC will next face Punjab FC on October 18, while Mumbai City FC will look to bounce back when they take on FC Goa on October 19. The draw leaves Mumbai City FC in desperate need of a win to climb out of the lower reaches of the ISL table.
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