Internet Desk: Buoyed by a spirited show in their AFC Champions League Preliminary Stage Two qualifier in Jordan earlier in the week, Bengaluru FC will look to get back to winning ways in the I-League when they take on DSK Shivajians at the Balewadi Stadium, in Pune, on Sunday.
Having suffered consecutive defeats in the League before the trip to Amman, Albert Roca said his side would look to build on the valiant show against Al-Wehdat where the Blues went down 2-1 but not before earning praise from the away fans and media alike. “We had phases in the games against East Bengal and Churchill where we switched off and ended up paying the price for it. But against Wehdat, we worked on a few things and I’m proud of the way the boys stuck to the plan. The attitude was good and it was there for all to see and if we carry on like this, we should put behind the minor hiccups we have suffered,” said the Spaniard on the eve of the game.
DSK, meanwhile, are battling to stage a resurrection of their own, sitting 7th on the table with five points and just the one win to show for. The Dave Rogers-coached side were unlucky in coming away with a goalless draw against Mohun Bagan in a game they took to the Kolkata side. “DSK are a good team and they showed it in the game against Bagan. Even in their last game against Aizawl, they conceded in the final minute to go down 1-0. We will be stepping on the pitch on Sunday knowing we cannot afford any more slip-ups and I’m confident the team will rise to the occasion,” said Roca.
A big positive that the Blues will take into the game is skipper Sunil Chhetri finding himself among the goals after a barren run that stretched to a little beyond two months. Talismanic and top scorer at the club for three straight seasons, Chhetri put on an inspired performance against Wehdat where his goal triggered a comeback that fell short at the end.