ISL 2017/18, Match 50: Mumbai City FC vs Bengaluru FC, 5 Talking Points

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Bengaluru FC consigned Mumbai City to a second successive home defeat as they romped to a comfortable 3-1 win at the Mumbai Football Arena. A double from captain Sunil Chhetri and one from their leading scorer Miku put Bengaluru in complete control of this match. Leo Costa scored one in the second for the hosts, but the game was well and truly up at that point.

The win sees Bengaluru go top of the table with 21 points while Mumbai failed to get back in the top four.

Here's what stood out from the game:

#5 Huge let-off for Balwant

Indian striker Balwant Singh played the full game for Mumbai City here, but his night really should have been cut short in the 38th minute.

The forward was fighting for a ball with Bengaluru right-back Harmanjot Khabra who seemed to wrap his arm around Balwant's neck a bit. The striker wasn't happy, but retaliated by striking out with his arm at Khabra's neck. It was a reckless act and any time you raise your arms, that's an automatic red. Considering he made contact with Khabra as well, it looked certain that he was going to receive his marching orders.

But the referee opted to dish out just the yellow for Balwant despite the severity of the offence. A huge let-off for the home side.

In another incident that went rather under the radar, Abinash Ruidas could have seen red for a two-footed, off-the-ground lunge in the final five minutes of the game. The referee was so sympathetic that he didn't even issue a yellow. Strange.

It's that inconsistency that has had both fans and teams raging. Whether it's the first minute or last minute, whether it's intentional or in frustration, such fouls should not go unpunished.

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