Chandigarh, India: In a thrilling encounter at the PJ Stadium, Punjab FC upset the odds and thrashed Bengaluru FC 3-1 in the 13th round of the Indian Super League on Friday evening.
Bengaluru, the higher-ranked team drew first blood through a Sunil Chhetri strike in the 15th minute. However, Punjab refused to back down and equalized eight minutes later with Wilmar Jordan’s powerful header. The home side continued their dominance in the second half with Luka Majcen putting them ahead in the 71st minute. Madih Talal then sealed the deal for Punjab with a late goal in the 77th minute sending the home crowd into rapture.
This was a historic win for Punjab FC as it marked their first ever victory against Bengaluru in the Indian Super League. The win also propelled them up to 9th place in the table while Bengaluru remains in 10th.
FULL TIME. Defeat for us in Delhi. Disappointing, frustrating and just not good enough on the night. 3-1#PFCBFC #WeAreBFC #Santhoshakke pic.twitter.com/xZ5F5aW6Xl
— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) February 3, 2024
Match Highlights
- Sunil Chhetri’s 15th-minute goal gave Bengaluru an early lead.
- Wilmar Jordan equalized for Punjab with a powerful header in the 23rd minute.
- Luka Majcen put Punjab ahead in the 71st minute with a well-placed finish.
- Madih Talal sealed the win for Punjab with a late goal in the 77th minute.
Key Stats
- Possession: Punjab FC 36% – 64% Bengaluru FC
- Shots on target: Punjab FC 8 – 2 Bengaluru FC
- Corners: Punjab FC 3 – 8 Bengaluru FC
Man of the Match: Madih Talal (Punjab FC)
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What’s Next
- Punjab FC will look to build on this momentum when they face Jamshedpur FC on February 15th.
- Bengaluru FC will be keen to bounce back when they travel to Chennaiyin FC on February 10th.
Quotes
- Punjab FC coach Staikos Vergetis: “I’m incredibly proud of the boys. They showed great character and determination to come back from behind and win this match. This is a huge result for us and we hope to build on it in the coming weeks.”
- Bengaluru FC coach Gerard Zaragoza Mulet: “We’re disappointed with the result but we have to learn from our mistakes and move on. We have a tough upcoming schedule but we are confident that we can bounce back.”