Hat-trick hero Chhetri decimates KBFC

NT Bengaluru

A day after remi niscing about the  growth of the  rivalry, Sunil Chhetri  rolled back the years to  his peak, scoring a mem orable hat-trick in Ben galuru FC’s 4-2 win over  archrivals Kerala Blast ers in the Indian Super  League on Saturday.  Chhetri scored his  eighth goal against the  Blasters, after some good  footwork from Ryan Wil liams. A constant nui sance for the defenders  on the right wing, Wil liams delivered a perfect  cross into the second post  for the 41-year-old to leap  and score a bullet header  in the seventh minute.

An  inevitable blue wave fol lowed, as the Kanteerava  crowd energized the play ers, and their push for a  second goal materialized  in the 38th minute.  BFC's Sunil Chhetri celebrates his goal against Kerala Blasters in the ISL | ISL Media  Full-back Nikhil  Poojary broke the press,  passed it to forward  Edgar Mendez, whose  hold-up play exposed the  Blasters’ backline. Men dez then found Williams,  who, one-on-one with the  defender, cut inside and  beautifully planted the  ball into the top corner to  make it 2-0.  The visitors had little  cohesion in the first half.  However, they grew into  the game and, within  10 minutes, equalized  thanks to Jesus Jimenez’s  tap-in and a header from  Freddy Lallawmawma.  To the hosts’ surprise,  the Blasters continued  probing in their own half.  

This is when key substitu tions, Jorge Pereyra Diaz  and Vinith Venkatesh,  came in to provide the  much-needed pace.  From a goal kick, Diaz  capitalized on a loose ball,  jostled past the defender,  and found Sunil Chhe tri waiting on the other  side. The goal was practi cally served on a platter,  thanks to Chhetri's per fect positioning.  The Blasters’ efforts to  fight back proved in vain,  as Chhetri completed his  hat-trick off a set-piece.  A quick ball into Chhe tri saw him one-on-one  with the keeper, and he  finished with style. To  celebrate, Chhetri even  added a few dance steps,  much to the delight of the  West Block Blues.

 Results:  BFC 4 (Chhetri 7’, 73’,  90’+7, Williams 38’) bt.  KBFC 2 (J. Jimenez 56’,  Freddy   W. 67’)