ISL 2020 playoffs, Match Highlights, Bengaluru FC vs ATK: 10-man Bengaluru weather late comeback attempt to win first-leg

FT | BFC 1 – 0 ATK

Bengaluru FC will head into the second-leg with a slender advantage, coming courtesy of Deshorn Brown’s solitary goal. ATK played well enough, but were profligate when it came to converting their chances, and they’ll walk away from this thinking they should have scored at least one goal on the night.

90’ | BFC 1 – 0 ATK

Four minutes of added time, but it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be enough for ATK. Bengaluru have begun game management, with Frater taking the ball near the corner flag and buying some precious time for his team. ATK can’t seem to get the ball into the feet of their attacking players with any urgency.

82’ | BFC 1 – 0 ATK

Incredible opportunity for ATK as Roy Krishna is brought down on the edge of the Bengaluru penalty area by a rapidly retreating Nishu Kumar.

The counterattack begins with a BFC free-kick at the other end, as Williams picks up the ball, sprints half the length of the pitch and slips it through to Krishna, who is taken out rather cynically. Kumar is sent off, and rightfully so, for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Edu Garcia slams the free-kick into the Bengaluru wall, but he’s been given a second go at it, after Khabra is booked for encroaching. Mandi takes the free-kick second time around, but it hits another defender and nothing comes of it.

76’ | BFC 1 – 0 ATK

It’s the end of Javi Hernandez’s game, as he’s replaced by Armando ‘Mandi’ Sosa, whose first contribution is to give the ball away cheaply. The mistake leads to a chance for Kevaughn Frater, who unleashes a ferocious shot. It’s swerving, it’s dipping, it’s moving all around like a bunny on a sugar-rush, but Arindam Bhattacharja displays some wonderful athleticism to parry it over.

Live footage of ATK attempting to get into Bengaluru’s final third

60’ | BFC 1 – 0 ATK

And the goalscorer’s off. Deshorn Brown makes way for Spaniard Nili, who will add a little more defensive steel to this Bengaluru side. It’s worth keeping in mind that Bengaluru have recently played 120 minutes in the AFC Cup against Maziya, so Cuadrat’s probably trying to plan ahead by resting his key players.

How low can you go?

53’ | BFC 1 – 0 ATK

This might not be the most important update in the context of the match, but Suresh Wangjam has just done the equivalent of a split in an attempt to chest the ball back to Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. It’s an excellent demonstration of his flexibility and athleticism, and I for one cannot wait to see him in season 14 of Nach Baliye. Or Dance India Dance. Whichever one has the celebrities in it.

48’ | BFC 1 – 0 ATK

Sunil Chhetri comes ever so close with a looping header! Kevaughn Frater is responsible for creating the opportunity, racing on to a pass on the right flank and executing a neat little Cruyff turn before crossing it in. Chhetri rises highest, but his header is palmed over by Arindam Bhattacharja, who looks like he’s not taking any chances after his blunder in the first half.

46’ | BFC 1 – 0 ATK

We have our first change of the evening, and it’s an extremely attacking one, as forward Kevaughn Frater comes on for Bengaluru defender Serran, who appeared to pick up a knock. What’s Carles Cuadrat up to here?

HT | BFC 1 – 0 ATK

That’s that for this first half, and we have a couple of things to unpack here. Bengaluru have hardly dominated the contest, but they find themselves ahead thanks to that Deshorn Brown goal, while ATK will rightfully enter the dressing room with a sense of frustration about them. Whichever way this goes, there’s definitely more goals in this.

42’ | BFC 1 – 0 ATK

After scoring a typical poacher’s goal, Deshorn Brown tries to follow it up with a worldie. The forward plucks a long ball out of the air on the edge of the ATK penalty area, dribbles past a couple of defenders with irreverent ease, and then unleashes a furious shot which whistles over the crossbar. ATK are struggling here and the halftime whistle couldn’t arrive soon enough.

31’ | BFC 1 – 0 ATK

Deshorn Brown puts Bengaluru in front after a howler from Arindam Bhattacharja! The ATK goalkeeper can’t hold on to a very tame shot from Juanan, and the ball squirms out of his grasp and into the path of an onrushing Brown, who bundles it into the net. It’s great work from the striker, who takes his opportunity with both hands, but what was the keeper thinking there?

24’ | BFC 0 – 0 ATK

Arindam Bhattacharja has ATK fans breathing heavy, after spilling a straightforward cross in the penalty area. Luckily there’s no one around to capitalise on his error, and the apologetic goalkeeper gathers the errant ball quickly.

16’ | BFC 0 – 0 ATK

Williams gets the ball into the net with a thunderous volley, but Bengaluru are bailed out by the linesman, who raises his flag for offside. Again, the troublemaker in chief is Roy Krishna, who gets away an early ball with some excellent improvisation to catch out BFC’s defenders.

Hold on, hold on, the replay shows he’s a mile onside. Oh my word, how’d they mess that one up, you could fit a Humvee in between him and the last man.

Alright wait, we have further clarification, there was a handball in the build up to the goal. My apologies, monsieur referee.

13’ | BFC 0 – 0 ATK

Right, so Juanan and Serran have a problem. Roy Krishna’s got several yards of pace on them, and boy does he know it. The forward has been beating them to every cross, punt and ricochet within a ten-metre radius, and they really need to work out some system between themselves, before it’s too late.

9’ | BFC 0 – 0 ATK

Roy Krishna channels his inner Zlatan in an attempt to score, trying to kung-fu kick a speculative long ball past Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Unfortunately, it’s always moving away from him, and he ends up looking less crouching tiger Jackie Chan and more punch-drunk kangaroo.

7’ | BFC 0 – 0 ATK

John Johnson gives away a corner, taking no chances on a dangerous cross. Dimas Delgado runs over to take it, and sends in a beautiful arcing delivery. It’s set up perfectly, and Rahul Bheke attacks it with gusto, but his header sails way over the crossbar. He’ll wish he ’d done better with the opportunity, but then again, if wishes were horses.

5’ | BFC 0 – 0 ATK

Chance for Bengaluru! Harmanjot Khabra picks up the ball on the left flank and floats in a speculative cross, but the diminutive Sunil Chhetri is drowned out by a red-and-white sea of defenders.

3’ | BFC 0 – 0 ATK

We have the first shot of the night, and it’s a tame one from Edu Garcia. The former Bengaluru man picks up the ball 30-odd yards away from goal, gets into a decent position, and then drags his shot very, very wide. No real sign of where this match is headed so far, but ATK are edging it on possession.

1’ | BFC 0 – 0 ATK

Let’s gooooo. Last night’s match was an absolute thriller and it’s set the bar quite high on entertainment value, but both the sides out on that field tonight are capable of scoring a goal or two.

Bengaluru FC have been miserly in defence this season!

In terms of defence, Carles Cuadrat’s Bengaluru is head and shoulders above the rest, having let in just 13 goals in 18 matches. They also lead the league in terms of clean-sheets, with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu having kept out the opposition on 10 separate occasions, the most for any goalkeeper in the admittedly brief history of the ISL.

Click here to check out more stats from the group stage of the tournament!

Cautious approach from both sides could lead to cagey affair

Two legged ties are often an intriguing proposition, with the balance slightly tilted in favour of the team playing second at home (ATK in this case), but as history has shown, while the tie cannot be won in the first leg, it surely can be lost in the span of those ninety minutes. A cagey affair is in the offering with the high stakes leading to a possibly cautious approach from both the defending champions and the titular favourites of this edition.

Click here to read more of Sreya Mazumder’s match preview.

Just half an hour to go!

The infamous West Block Blues have Kaanterava buzzing!

What a welcome for the Blues tonight. Come on, BFC! #WeAreBFC #RoomForMore pic.twitter.com/uvCp4VF3Hv

— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) March 1, 2020

And here’s the ATK XI

Antonio Habas makes five changes to his team from last Saturday's encounter against @bengalurufc.

Arindam, Prabir, Javi, Soosairaj, Edu returns to the starting eleven. #ATK #BFCATK#AamarBukeyATK#BanglaBrigade pic.twitter.com/H6UMGpnn3n

— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) March 1, 2020

Here’s how the hosts line up!

Hello and welcome to Firstpost.com’s coverage of the Indian Super League!

After Chennaiyin FC’s commanding win over FC Goa on home turf, we now turn our attention to the other semi-final, which pits defending champions Bengaluru FC against former champions ATK, in a battle between second and third place in the league. Stay tuned as we bring you all the latest updates from the thrilling encounter!