Bengaluru: The spotlight will be on skipper Sunil Chhetri as he turns out in his 150th Indian Super League (ISL) match as former champions Bengaluru FC and Hyderabad FC clash at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Saturday.
Chhetri, who made his ISL debut in 2015 in Mumbai City FC colours, has been BFC’s trump card ever since the club made its foray into ISL two years later. The India star is now second in ISL’s all-time scorers list with his 60 goals slotting him second just three behind Nigerian Barth Ogbeche. It will be a great chance for Chhetri to score his third hat-trick and join Ogbeche at the top in front of his fans as the Blues take on bottom-placed Hyderabad FC. HFC, who are staring at relegation with four points in 15 matches, are yet to win a match this season. They will be weakened by the absence of skipper Joao Victor and defender Alex Saji, who have been suspended. It has been a disappointing season for BFC, the 2018-19 champions having managed just 15 points in 16 matches.
They have just three wins to show and lost all their away matches and are now in a do-or-die situation for a top-6 finish with both Chennayin FC and East Bengal in a better position on the table. Asked about BFC’s poor conversion rate, assistant coach Renedy Singh, standing-in for suspended head coach Gerard Zaragoza said. “We have to create more (chances). You can have a bad match but still you can win. The last match against Mumbai has been a big step for us. We had three good chances, of which two hit the post. If we continue doing that then the goals will come.”
“HFC youngsters will come hard at us and will run for all 90 minutes. We have to do well and win this match,” he added.
Chhetri will be the fourth player after Pritam Kotal (157), Amrinder Singh (153) and Mandar Dessai (152) to reach the landmark of 150 games.
Results: At Chennai: Chennaiyin FC 0 lost to Mumbai City FC 2 (Thounaojam 71, 90+1).Today’s matches: Odisha FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant (5 pm), Bengaluru FC vs Hyderabad FC. Live, Sports18, 7.30pm.
Chhetri, who made his ISL debut in 2015 in Mumbai City FC colours, has been BFC’s trump card ever since the club made its foray into ISL two years later. The India star is now second in ISL’s all-time scorers list with his 60 goals slotting him second just three behind Nigerian Barth Ogbeche. It will be a great chance for Chhetri to score his third hat-trick and join Ogbeche at the top in front of his fans as the Blues take on bottom-placed Hyderabad FC. HFC, who are staring at relegation with four points in 15 matches, are yet to win a match this season. They will be weakened by the absence of skipper Joao Victor and defender Alex Saji, who have been suspended. It has been a disappointing season for BFC, the 2018-19 champions having managed just 15 points in 16 matches.
They have just three wins to show and lost all their away matches and are now in a do-or-die situation for a top-6 finish with both Chennayin FC and East Bengal in a better position on the table. Asked about BFC’s poor conversion rate, assistant coach Renedy Singh, standing-in for suspended head coach Gerard Zaragoza said. “We have to create more (chances). You can have a bad match but still you can win. The last match against Mumbai has been a big step for us. We had three good chances, of which two hit the post. If we continue doing that then the goals will come.”
“HFC youngsters will come hard at us and will run for all 90 minutes. We have to do well and win this match,” he added.
Chhetri will be the fourth player after Pritam Kotal (157), Amrinder Singh (153) and Mandar Dessai (152) to reach the landmark of 150 games.
Results: At Chennai: Chennaiyin FC 0 lost to Mumbai City FC 2 (Thounaojam 71, 90+1).Today’s matches: Odisha FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant (5 pm), Bengaluru FC vs Hyderabad FC. Live, Sports18, 7.30pm.