I-League: Bengaluru FC up for Salgaocar challenge

Bengaluru FC arrived in Goa on Sunday for what is a very crucial game in their debut I-League season this far, taking on League leaders Salgaocar at the Duler Stadium later today. Looking to quell the search for their first away win apart, a Bengaluru FC win would give Ashley Westwood’s team the chance to go back to the top of the table.

Derrick Pereira-coached Salgaocar FC missed the chance to stretch their lead at the top when they were held by Pune FC on Friday before Bengaluru FC and Sporting Clube de Goa played a 1-1 draw in Bangalore on Saturday.

To be able to break the away win duck against Salgaocar FC would infuse renewed energy into the Sunil Chhetri-led team’s League campaign which, after a brilliant start, has veered a little with two points from their last four games.

However, Westwood believes the team is off pressure for Tuesday’s big game. “We have absolutely nothing to lose and are under no pressure whatsoever. We were never one of the favourites to win the title. These are the kind of games you look forward to being involved in,” said the Englishman on Monday.

Apart from the fantastic form he is in, Bengaluru’s Australian striker Sean Rooney will have everyone’s attention as he plays his former and only other I-League club for the first time since playing for the Goans last season. On the other end, the battle between Salgaocar striker Darryl Duffy and Bengaluru FC centre-backs John Johnson and Curtis Osano should make for an interesting one. Scotsman Duffy, along with Mohammedan Sporting’s Josimar Martins da Silva and Shillong Lajong’s Cornell Glen, is leading the League’s scoring charts with seven goals while Bengaluru FC’s English defenders have given ample account of their impact at the back.

Bengaluru FC face an important stretch in the League when they play six games over the next 26 days and nothing would serve as an ideal injection than a win this afternoon in Mapusa at the Duler ground.