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Bengaluru FC’s struggles on the road continued after Simon Grayson’s men went down 1-0 to Odisha FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Odisha on Thursday. Nandhakumar Sekar’s goal (33′) in the first half was all the hosts needed to pick up three points and move to the top of the table. Bengaluru FC, who have come away with just one point from their last three games, stay in sixth position.
Having drawn away to Chennaiyin FC followed by a 0-1 defeat to champions Hyderabad FC at the Gachibowli last week, Bengaluru FC were keen to pick all points, but didn’t turn up with a performance to warrant a win.
Grayson was without key playmaker Javi Hernandez who had to fly back to Spain for the birth of his daughter, and the midfielder’s absence was telling. Experienced defender Prabir Das too didn’t make the trip to Odisha FC owing to an injury as Grayson yet again, started with young Namgyal Bhutia at the right-back position. The Blues were buoyed by the return of striker Roy Krishna who missed the game against Hyderabad with an injury.
Unsurprisingly, Bengaluru FC’s first big chance came through Krishna, who was picked out by a delightful pass from Bruno Ramires. The Fijian striker latched on to the ball and looked to place the ball beyond an onrushing Amrinder Singh, with the outside of his boot, only for the Odisha FC ‘keeper to make the save. Amrinder had to swing into action soon again, scampering to boot the ball out after a sloppy back pass from Saul Crespo looked like rolling into the net.
The hosts found the lead just a little over the half-hour mark when Nandhakumar picked up leftovers from an Odisha FC corner, and drilled his shot past a blindsided Gurpreet Sigh Sandhu in goal to make it 1-0. The Blues suffered another setback before the break when Grayson was forced to make a change after striker Sivasakthi picked up an injury on his ankle.
Bengaluru FC had the second half to stage a fightback, but looked bereft of inspiration or intent as Odisha FC hung on to their one-goal lead all the way through to full time.
The Blues return to the Kanteerava next, where a clash against East Bengal FC awaits them on November 11.
