ISL: Machado hands Bengaluru FC first loss of season

Mumbai City FC captain Paulo Machado’s 29th minute strike handed Bengaluru FC its first defeat of the Indian Super League season, at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday.

The 1-0 win goal win takes Mumbai City to the top of the ISL table with 27 points from 13 games. Bengaluru is in the second spot with the same number of points and a game in hand.

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Bengaluru fielded a full strength side, missing only striker Miku due to injury, but ended on the losing side against a determined home team, led by Machado from the front.

Both the sides began on an aggressive note and Bengaluru created two chances inside the first seven minutes but both the shots sailed above the bar.

In the fifth minute, Mumbai’s Arnold Issoko lofted the ball from a distance but experienced Bengaluru custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu collected it safely.

Mumbai City goalkeeper Amrinder Singh was soon called to action as he tipped over Xisco Hernandez's volley from close.

The match-winner came after a lightening counter-attack by the home side. Arnold Issoko won the ball in defence and initiated the counter. Rafael Bastos threaded a pass for Machado and the latter produced top-notch finish to bust the net.

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BFC brought in Chencho Gyeltshen and Boithang Haokip as substitutes in the frontline, taking out Xisco and Udanta Singh. The change in personnel raised the pace in the offence, but the Mumbai City defence held its collective nerve. The back four were tireless in their work, marshalled by Lucian Goian with support from Subashish Bose, Anwar Ali and Sauvik Chakravarti.

The home side faced tremendous the pressure from Bengaluru and managed to hold on. Modou Sougou had a fine chance to double the home side's lead when he beat the offside trap with a clever burst down the left and faced a one-to-one situation against Gurpreet. The Bengaluru custodian read the Senegal striker’s mind and did extremely well to deny him with a fine save.

Mumbai City hosts FC Goa on Friday, while Bengaluru FC will take on NorthEast United at home on Wednesday.