For a team which had a rollicking start at home Bengaluru FC seem to be going through a rough patch.
Bengaluru: For a team which had a rollicking start at home, to managing just one point from three away contests, Bengaluru FC seem to be going through a rough patch.
On Saturday, when they take on Sporting Clube de Goa, on home turf, it will be a clash of two evenly matched I-League sides at the Bangalore Football Stadium.
Both teams sit high on the table level on 14 points after eight rounds, with four wins, two draws and two losses each.
BFC have been dogged by ill-luck and poor turf conditions, but head coach Ashley Westwood refused to make excuses and remained upbeat on the eve of the match.
“The morale is good. Although a bad run, the performances were good. You see late penalties being missed and injury time goals conceded. It's just football,“ the Englishman said.
With Sporting coming off a win against highflying Pune F.C and a draw against the formidable East Bengal, the former Blackburn assistant manager is wary of the huge threat from the Goan side.
While Rooney has been the main goal scorer for the club, Chhetri getting back amongst goals and Robin Singh giving a good account of himself for the national side has put Westwood in a selection dilemma.
The wingers have continued to impress with the experienced John Menyongar pulling strings from the middle, while John Johnson and Curtis Osano have held fort at the back fuelling BFC's hopes of returning to winning ways. Captain Chhetri, who became the top scorer for the Indian team earlier this week, is also focused on lifting the team's fortunes. “It is all about how we play and get back to winning ways,“ said Chhetri.
Despite Mackroy Peixote, Dawson Fernandes, Joseph Pereira and Stephen Barretto being on the treatment table, Sporting coach Oscar Bruzon believes that his team has what it takes to overcome the Blue Army . “The game plan is three points,“ he said.
“We know our strengths and weaknesses and if we play 90-100% then the rivals will have a problem,“ asserted the Spaniard.
While BFC and Sporting may differ in style and attitude of play, one thing is certain; both the sides share the same passion for the game.
“Tomorrow's match should be a good and enjoyable match,“ Bruzon said as a parting note.
( Source : dc )
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