BFC vs NEUFC, Match 2: Alan Costa's header gives a winning start for Bengaluru in ISL 2022

Durand Cup champions Bengaluru FC crossed swords with North East United FC in the first match of their campaign in the 2022 edition of the Indian Super League. Both teams played this match at Shree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Notably, Bengaluru is playing under the captaincy of the legendary Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri.

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The hosts kept their domination in most parts of the match as they ended up being on the high notes in all numbers compared to the NEUFC. Eventually, the Blues clinched the match by a score line of 1-0 to start their campaign in an emphatic style with a win in the season opener.

Senior center-back Alan Costa signs in the season opener for Bengaluru FC

Speaking of the match, then it was like a roller coaster in most instances for both teams. The match was going without a single goal scored from the side of either of the teams.  But it was the 87^th minute of the match when senior Brazilian center-back Alan Costa smashed the ball beautifully into the goal post with an amazing and calculated header.

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Costa’s header completely tricked the NEUFC goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja(GK) and it went below the feet when he jumped in an effort to stop the header pushed by Alan Costa. This goal provided almost provided a winning lead for Bengaluru. But it was not the moment when everything could be assessed as normal in the match.

A full-voltage drama happened in the 90^th minute of the match when the Spanish central-midfielder smashed a stunner to beat the Blues’ goalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu to level the score for North East United. But the delight and joy in the camp of NEUFC couldn’t last long when the referee happened to declare an offside and ruled out the goal. The 31-year-old senior footballer immediately sprinted toward the linesman.

The heat of the moment also forced NEUFC’s head coach Marco Balbul to lose his temper and rush toward the referee. Marco’s behavior disheartened the referee and the latter issued a red card to him.

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Eventually, the match ended in the favor of Bengaluru with the final whistle from the referee and they continued their winning streak from the Durand Cup 2022 final to the first match of their campaign in the Indian Super League. Alan Costa was adjudged the 'hero of the match award for his brilliance in the match.

Here’s a look at the stats from the second match of the Indian Super League 2022

Shots

BFC – 17

NEUFC – 6

Shots on Target

BFC – 2

NEUFC – 1

Ball Possession

BFC – 54%

NEUFC – 46%

Pass Accuracy

BFC – 81%

NEUFC – 74%

Fouls

BFC – 6

NEUFC – 8

Yellow Cards

BFC – 0

NEUFC – 3

Red Cards

BFC – 0

NEUFC – 0

Offsides

BFC – 3

NEUFC – 2

Corners

BFC – 5

NEUFC – 6