ISL 2019-20: Gritty NorthEast United hold Bengaluru FC

BENGALURU: Bengaluru FC and NorthEast United played out a goalless draw in the second match of the Indian Super League at the Sree Kanteereva Stadium on Monday amidst relentless rain. This was the first time a game ended in a stalemate since the Blues entered the ISL.

Coach Carles Cuadrat opted for a 4-3-3 line up with a three-man midfield with Dimas Delgado, Harmanjot Khabra and Raphael Augusto while North East started Asomah Gyan as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

BFC started on the right note maintaining possession that restricted the Highlanders to playing on the break and the first chance came from the new signing Ashique Kurinyan. The former Pune City FC player deployed as a left-back picked the ball near the halfway mark and sprinted down the left, bypassing the North East United defence and drilled a shot across the goal.

Another chance went begging as the Blues could not divert one on target as Sunil Chhetri drove a loose ball that evaded the near post.

Udanta Singh then missed a glorious chance after being played by Raphael Augusto. The BFC winger shot wide of the target with only the goalkeeper to beat.

NorthEast got into the groove as Martin Chaves had the first sight on goal after linking up with Gyan. Gurpreet Sandhu made a routine save. Gyan then put the ball in the net but his position was ruled offside.

A defensive error almost gifted North East the opening goal late in the first half after Rahul Bheke headed a ball back to Sandhu only for it to be intercepted by Chaves who pulled it wide. Gyan rattled the goal post in the second half with his left foot, after being played in by Chaves but once again was ruled offside.