I-League 2024-25: SC Bengaluru hold Delhi FC at home

Both teams fought till the end of the contest.

Sporting Club Bengaluru rallied from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Delhi FC at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Friday, December 13, 2024.

Stephane Samir Binong netted twice for Delhi FC in the 34th and 52nd minutes, but SC Bengaluru’s Thomyo Shimray matched the Cameroon forward’s feat with two goals of his own in the 53rd and 75th minutes.

Delhi FC’s Tondomba Singh Naorem was sent off after receiving his second yellow card in the dying moments of the match.

The draw meant Delhi FC remained in the ninth spot in the standings with five points from five matches. Newbies SC Bengaluru occupy the 11th position with four points from the five games.

SC Bengaluru vs Delhi FC

The match went off to a sedate start with both sides taking a cautious approach. Both the teams were coming into the game on the back of wins and neither wanted to yield early.

However, the dynamics shifted dramatically in the 34th minute after a mistake from SC Bengaluru goalkeeper Bishal Lama resulted in a Delhi FC goal. Tondomba Singh Naorem floated in a corner from the left and Lama ventured out to intercept the ball but collided with his teammate Shankar Sampingiraj inside the box, leading to a fumble. Binong was perfectly positioned to exploit this error, nodding in the ball for his third goal of the season.

This goal spurred SC Bengaluru into action as they increased their offensive efforts. The match became more lively, with the hosts pressing forward to level the score.

Their aggression yielded a prime opportunity in the 41st minute when a precise cross from the left reached Jordan Lamela at the far post. Lamela smartly headed the ball towards Krishnananda Singh, who, despite having enough time to aim, sent his shot frustratingly over the bar.

At the other end, Binong had a golden chance to double Delhi’s lead in the 42nd minute after breaking clear with a through ball. Facing only the goalkeeper Lama, he opted for power over precision, resulting in his shot blasting over the crossbar, a moment he would rue as it could have given his team a comfortable lead going into half-time.

Binong, though, made amends after the lemon break. A long throw from the left was initially thwarted by Sampingiraj’s block of Binong’s overhead kick. The rebound landed with Danilo Quipapá, whose attempt was also blocked. The persistence paid off for Binong, who showcased his poacher’s instinct by tapping in the loose ball for his second goal, tying him as the league’s joint top-scorer with four goals.

SC Bengaluru rebounded swiftly after falling behind again. Lamela cleverly headed the ball to release Thomyo Shimray, who outpaced his marker and slotted the ball past Delhi FC’s goalkeeper Abhishek Calvin.

Buoyed by the goal, SC Bengaluru intensified their attack, finding the equalizer in the 75th minute. Lamela delivered a corner to Ashish Jha at the far post, who headed it to Shimray inside the box. Shimray completed his brace with a header, drawing the score level at 2-2.

Tondomba Singh was given marching orders in injury time when his dangerous high boot saw him receive his second yellow card of the match.

Both teams pushed for a winning goal in the closing stages, but solid defensive efforts on both sides ensured the match concluded with a 2-2 draw.

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