Sunil Chhetri’s goal helps Bengaluru FC sink SC East Bengal and end the ISL campaign on a high

Sunil Chhetri scored his 51st Hero Indian Super League (ISL) goal to help his team Bengaluru FC go past SC East Bengal with a score of 1-0 at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco, Goa to end their ISL campaign with a victory.

It was a close contest that was decided by the Bengaluru FC skipper’s strike in the 24th minute.

SC East Bengal started the game well and caused Bengaluru FC problems with Antonio Perosevic the bright spot for the Kolkata outfit.

They conjured up the game’s first big chance in the 22nd minute when Perosevic managed to get through on goal but his low shot was denied by goalkeeper Lara Sharma who produced a good save.

However, the Blues edged ahead two minutes later when Chhetri latched onto a Yaya Banana long ball before getting into a shooting position and firing past Suvam Sen.

Udanta Singh then rattled the crossbar on the half-hour mark as the Blues had their tails up after getting on the scoresheet.

Perosevic then squandered another big chance four minutes from the interval when he delayed his shot while being in the clear allowing Roshan Naorem to put in a timely tackle. Perosevic came off worse in that episode and had to be substituted.

The Blues went into the break with a slender lead.

Bengaluru FC were dominant in the opening exchanges but SC East Bengal almost squeezed in an equalizer in the 58th minute when Mahesh Naorem Singh forced a fine save from Sharma from an acute angle.

Marcelo Ribeiro then missed a big chance to draw SC East Bengal level in the 70th minute when he failed to hit the target despite being played in on goal.

Nine minutes later, Sen made a big save to deny Chhetri and keep SC East Bengal in the game.

The Red and Gold brigade pushed hard for the equalizer but lacked a cutting edge in front of the goal as Marco Pezzaiuoli’s team closed the victory.

The Blues will end the season in the sixth position while SC East Bengal will finish bottom.