Bengaluru FC's pre-season tour of Spain was off to a stuttering start after it lost 2-1 to Atletico Saguntino at the Masia la Grava facility Alboraya on Friday.
The home side, which plays in the Segunda division B (third tier of Spanish football), took the lead as early as the seventh minute. Striker David Fas capitalised on an error from BFC goalkeeper Soram Poirei’s error to put his side in front.
New signing Xisco Hernandez created many chances for BFC in the first half, but it went into the break trailing.
BFC restored parity seven minutes into the second half, through a Dimas Delgado strike. It was the Spaniard's first game since being taken off in the Indian Super League final in March following an injury. Before Delgado's goal, Poirei made back-to-back saves to keep his team in the game.
But Sagutino managed to break down the BFC defence in the 84th minute as a cross was headed home and took the match 2-1.
Rino Anto played his first game since his return to the club after a spell with Kerala Blasters. Soram Anganba Poirei also started in his first game for BFC, after a loan spell with the club between 2013 and 2015.
Bengaluru head coach Carles Cuadrat was pleased with the performance overall. “I was happy with the performance in the game against Saguntino because for large periods, we played the football we have been training for, and we gave a good account of ourselves against a tough opponent.”
“We’ve been working hard all these days and these games are an opportunity for us to try on the pitch what we have been training for. It’s important to give an opportunity to all the players."
“We have a mix in the team where a few players have got a lot of game time while there are those who haven’t competed professionally," he said.
Next up on the tour is UAE Pro League side Shabab Al Ahli Dubai FC on Monday.
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