ISL 2020-21: Sunil Chhetri, Cleiton Silva add to Odisha's woes as Bengaluru get another win

Deepak Malik / Sportzpics for ISL

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Goals from Sunil Chhetri(38') and Cleiton Silva (79') helped Bengaluru FC continue their resurgent form with a 2-1 win over Odisha FC on Thursday. BFC went third in the Indian Super League 2020-21 (ISL) table following the win and are one of only three sides unbeaten so far this season. Steven Taylor was the goalscorer for Odisha in the second half, but Stuart Baxter's side are yet to register a win this season and remain 10th, with just one point from six games. 

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There was little to separate the sides in a cagey first half, as the game failed to pick up a pace and saw more fouls than goalscoring opportunities. Chhetri gave Bengaluru the breakthrough minutes before half time with a superb leap to head the ball home from Harmanjot Khabra's cross. 

Odisha pushed hard for an equaliser following the restart, creating several presentable opportunities, and testing Gurpreet Singh Sandhu on multiple occasions. They got their reward from a set-piece in the 71st minute, when Taylor timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap to slot the ball home from Jerry Mawihmingthanga's free-kick. But their joy was shortlived, as Silva punished some slack defending with a neatly taken, close range finish with his left foot.

Odisha next face unbeaten NorthEast United on December 22, while Bengaluru face second-placed ATK Mohun Bagan on December 21.

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