Goa: Bengaluru FC has broken Kerala Blasters’ 10-game unbeaten run at the Tilak Maidan Stadium.
Naorem Roshan Singh’s free-kick brought the Blues into top-four in Indian Super League 2021-22. Resuming play after more than two weeks, Kerala Blasters looked rusty. The opening exchanges from Bengaluru were threatening to break the deadlock. Danish Farooq and Prince Ibara came close to scoring but with unfulfilled efforts. Jorge Diaz’s uncleared clearance hit Sunil Chhetri and went in. Nishu Kumar was well alert to clear the ball off the line. Both the defenses held uptight. The cagey half came to an end with both the teams cancelling out each others’ efforts.
.@bengalurufc edged out @KeralaBlasters in #KBFCBFC, courtesy Roshan Naorem's inch-perfect free-kick, which propelled the Blues into the 🔝4️⃣! 🤜🤛#HeroISL #LetsFootball #ISLRecap pic.twitter.com/bOAIoNs4pE
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) January 30, 2022
The Blues deserved a goal that gifted Naorem Roshan Singh. The goal came from an individual brace early into the second half. Roshan curled in a delightful free-kick from just outside the box. The Indian winger’s magical left foot send the ball past a diving Prabhsukhan Gill into the back of the net.
Kerala tried hard to draw level. The Manjapaddas lacked the cutting edge that they have displayed this season in the final third. Harmanjot Khabra powered a volley straight at Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Moments later he was called into action again, smothering an Adrian Luna shot after he was set up by Diaz from the left-wing. Bengaluru came agonizingly close to doubling their lead but substitute Cleiton Silva saw his effort tipped away for a corner at the far post by Gill. Udanta then set up Bruno Silva but his effort flew over the bar as Bengaluru pushed hard to make it 2-0.
The Blues moved to the fourth position having 20 points from 14 games while Kerala remained in third place with 20 points from 12 matches. They lost for the first time since their first game of the season.
