Marco Pezzaiuoli’s Bengaluru FC secured all three points in yet another goal-fest in the opening week of the eighth edition of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL). Five goals were scored in the first half, with Cleiton Silva rounding up Subashish Roy Choudhary to open the scoring on the night, which was then followed by an equalizer by Deshorn Brown.

An own goal by Mashoor Shereef restored Bengaluru’s lead before Mathias Coureur fired in to make it 2-2. Jayesh Rane slotted the ball into the bottom corner just before the first-half break to give the Blues’ the lead as they headed into the half-time break.

Prince Ibara scored his first goal in the Hero ISL in the 82nd minute to put the game to bed. The Blues would be eyeing to replicate their dominance against Odisha FC, in their next game on 24th November.

Bengaluru FC head coach Marco Pezzaiuoli summed up his side’s display on the night while speaking at the official post-match press conference:

Here are the excerpts from Pezzaiuoli’s press conference:

How would you rate Jayesh Rane’s performance today?

I think Jayesh scored a very good goal. I think scoring that third goal was very important to win the game. I think it was his debut in the team for us, in the BFC team, in the league. I think he has a lot of potential to increase, it was not his best game, but still, he was working hard and scored a goal, which is also very important for an offensive midfield player, to be in the box and scoring and that is good.

A word on Udanta Singh’s performance tonight, any tactical reasons for substituting him, or was it just looking after his fitness?

Of course, we were looking after his fitness. He was with the national team with no pre-season at all. And afterwards, after the quarantine of eight days, he was also sick for eight days. He lost many training sessions, but also we have a lot of potential on the bench. You saw Leon (Augustine) on the right-wing or you saw Prince (Ibara) as well on the right-wing. We have good players who I can bring inside, it's why I also gave the other players who worked very well in the pre-season the opportunity to play.

How do you rate the team’s performance in the first half in comparison to the second half?

Of course, the second half was better. Ball possession was better in the first half, defending wise we lost the ball too fast, defending wise we were not good on the man, especially in the box defending was not good. but also in the second half, the box defending, we need to improve. I think the second half was much much better in case of scoring goals, in case of ball possession, keeping the ball, but still there is a lot of space to increase.

What are your thoughts on your side’s defensive line?

Nothing, it’s one game, I don't talk now, we got two goals. And it's one game. I don't make a big issue out of it. We are working tomorrow again and preparing for the Odisha game and I don't want to make a big issue out of it. I know what my defenders can do. They can do it better. They know it themselves. But let's see the positives if we want, 4-2 in the first game after a six months break. I think that's important.