Bengaluru keeps pace with top guns

The host opened the scoring from a set-piece when Paartalu (8’) struck from Dimas Delgado’s corner. Sunil Chhetri (63’) doubled the lead after the break to put the result beyond doubt. The win takes Bengaluru to the second spot with 22 points from 12 matches. Jamshedpur remains sixth with 13 points.

New signing David Grande started up top as Jamshedpur also had Gourav Mukhi returning to ISL after 13 months. Bengaluru started the game on the front foot and looked the more likely team to break the deadlock. It did from a Dimas corner-kick eight minutes into the game.

The Spaniard’s dangerous delivery was met at the near post by Paartalu, who beat Narender Gahlot in the air and sent a powerful header into the net that left Subrata Paul with no chance. BFC doubled its lead just after the hour mark. Paartalu played a magnificent long ball to release Chhetri into the box. Narender failed to react to the pass and the striker headed the ball forward to take the onrushing keeper out of the equation and slotted home.

CCFC back to winning ways

Defending champion Chennai City FC notched up its second victory of the season as it got the better of Gokulam Kerala FC 3-2 in a high-scoring I-League contest in Calicut.

Adolfo Miranda (45’), Pravitto Raju (55’) and Sri Ram (77’) got on the scoresheet for the winning side. Shibil Muhammed (81’ and 90’) netted a brace for Gokulam, which at one stage had a three-goal deficit. Three players (two from Gokulam and one from Chennai City) were sent off in stoppage time.

Home team player Vigneshwaran Baskaran was badly injured in the final phase of the contest and was taken to hospital in an ambulance.