ISL 2020-21: Bengaluru looking to arrest slide as it takes on North East United

Naushad Moosa will be keen to taste his first victory for the club as interim coach when it takes on the Highlanders at Vasco on Tuesday.

Bengaluru FC is currently placed sixth in the ISL points table. - ISL MEDIA

Bengaluru FC will aim to halt its winless run in the Indian Super League when it takes on North East United FC in Vasco on Tuesday. The club has gone six matches without a win, and its defeat against SC East Bengal extended its losing streak to four matches. Known to be a good team, the Blues are under pressure; head coach Carles Cuadrat was sacked last week, and interim coach Naushad Moosa is yet to taste victory.

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The team has let in more goals (13) than it has scored (12) so far in the Indian Super League. Although it had numerous shots on target, the only goal it scored in its last four games was against Mumbai City FC, via a penalty. There will also be pressure to deliver against a team it has traditionally done well against – five wins, three draws, and one loss.

 

'Difficult time'

“It has been a difficult time for everyone,” Bengaluru FC head coach Moosa said ahead of the contest.

Podcast: From Mumbai City and ATK Mohun Bagan's dominance to Carles Cuadrat's sacking at Bengaluru FC, our reporters Aashin Prasad and Shyam Vasudevan talk all things ISL in our latest episode of the Full Time Show.

 

“For the players and everyone involved with the club, it has not been easy. We need to overcome this form and we are working on it. The players are motivated, and I am expecting them to do better against North East United. They aren’t a bad team at all, and their position on the table (seventh) is not a reflection of their performances. They have the ability to fight back and we cannot take them lightly,” Moosa said.

No new coach bounce for BFC, but Moosa offers path for a new beginning

The Highlanders are also coming off a defeat; they went down 4-2 against Hyderabad FC last Friday. The main concern for them would be the inconsistency of their attack: they have scored only four goals in their last five matches, and will hope the absence of their main striker – Kwesi Appiah – doesn’t continue to hurt them.

“We know that Bengaluru have lost four games [in a row], but every game is new and we have to respect them,” North East United assistant coach Alison Kharsyntiew said.

“I’m sure that the players will give their best [on Tuesday]. Whatever the outcome, we know our duty. We have to forget the last match, focus on the next match and put in 100 per cent to win... No matter if we play against the best team or not, we have to be ready. We are ready for any possible attack from them,” he said.

The two sides played out a 2-2 draw the last time they met, earlier this season.

SQUADS Bengaluru FC: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Lalthuammawia Ralte, Lara Sharma, Sharon, Juanan, Rahul Bheke, Francisco Gonzalez, Ajith Kumar, Joe Zoherliana, Biswa Darjee, Namgyal Bhutia, Parag Srivas, Pratik Chaudhari, Wungngayam Muirang, Dimas Delgado, Erik Paartalu, Suresh Wangjam, Thoi Singh, Ajay Chhetri, Emanuel Lalchhanchhuaha, Amay Morajkar, Harmanjot Khabra, Cleiton Silva, Sunil Chhetri, Kristian Opseth, Ashique Kuruniyan, Deshorn Brown, Udanta Singh, Edmund Lalrindika, Leon Augustin, Semboi Haokip, Naorem Singh. North East United: Gurmeet, Nikhil Deka, Sanjiban Ghosh, Subhasish Roy, Ashutosh Mehta, Benjamin Lambot, Dylan Fox, Gurjinder Kumar, Mashoor Shereef, Nabin Rabha, Nim Dorjee, Provat Lakra, Rakesh Pradhan, Wayne Vaz, Federico Gallego, Imran Khan, Khassa Camara, Lalengmawia, Lalrempuia Fanai, Pragyan Gogoi, Rochharzela, Britto PM, Idrissa Sylla, Ninthoinganba Meetei, Kwesi Appiah, Lalkhawpuimawia, Luis Machado, Suhair Vadakkepeedika. MATCH BEGINS 7.30PM.