Bengaluru FC secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Hyderabad FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Thursday, marking their second consecutive win of the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) season. The commanding performance saw goals from Rahul Bheke and Sunil Chhetri, propelling Gerard Zaragoza’s side to the top of the ISL table.
Bheke Opens the Scoring
The match began with Bengaluru FC asserting their control early on, dictating play and stretching Hyderabad FC’s defense. The breakthrough came in the fifth minute after the hosts earned a corner. Academy graduate Vinith Venkatesh, fresh off scoring in Bengaluru’s previous victory over East Bengal FC, stepped up to take the set-piece. The 19-year-old delivered a perfectly weighted curling ball to the far post where defender Rahul Bheke awaited.
Bheke, a notable summer signing for Bengaluru, created space before calmly slotting the ball past Hyderabad FC goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh with a deft side-foot finish. This marked Bheke’s first ISL goal since February 2022, when he scored against Jamshedpur FC. It was also his fifth career goal from a corner in the ISL, placing him fifth on the all-time list of goals from corner kicks, trailing only Bartholomew Ogbeche, Mourtada Fall, Roy Krishna, and Peter Hartley.
Hyderabad FC attempted to respond, but despite Parag Shrivas delivering a promising cross to Devendra Murgaonkar, the effort was off target.
Chhetri’s Impact from the Bench
The game took on new life when Sunil Chhetri entered the pitch in the 57th minute. Bengaluru FC continued to press Hyderabad’s defense, and in the 85th minute, they were rewarded with a penalty. Hyderabad defender Leander D’Cunha brought down Roshan Singh inside the 18-yard box, giving Chhetri the opportunity to double Bengaluru’s lead.
As always, Chhetri was clinical from the spot. Sending goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh the wrong way, he calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to net his first goal of the season. Chhetri’s impact did not stop there. In the dying moments of the match, Spanish striker Edgar Mendez delivered a dangerous cross from the right wing, which Chhetri met with a diving header, securing his second goal of the night.
The brace not only capped off a stellar performance for the Indian football legend but also marked a significant milestone in his career. Chhetri’s double made him the joint-highest goal-scorer in ISL history, tying with Hyderabad’s Bartholomew Ogbeche at 63 goals.
Chhetri’s Stellar Contribution
Chhetri’s introduction to the match completely changed the tempo of play. Over the course of his 33 minutes on the pitch, the Bengaluru FC captain completed all nine of his attempted passes, scored twice, and created a clear goal-scoring opportunity. His leadership and finishing prowess were on full display, proving instrumental in Bengaluru’s emphatic victory.
The ISL 2024-25 season has already seen a thrilling trend of late goals, with eight goals scored past the 85th minute, and this match was no exception. Chhetri’s contributions underline the importance of experienced players in clutch moments as Bengaluru FC asserted their dominance.
Looking Ahead
With this win, Bengaluru FC now look ahead to a highly anticipated clash with Mohun Bagan Super Giant on September 28. The victory over Hyderabad FC puts them in a strong position, and they will aim to extend their winning streak as they continue their campaign. Hyderabad FC, meanwhile, will seek to bounce back when they face Punjab FC on September 25.
Scores:
Bengaluru FC – 3 (Rahul Bheke 5’, Sunil Chhetri 85’, 94’)
Hyderabad FC – 0
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