Miku's brace keeps Bengaluru FC on top of table

PUNE: FC Pune City fell to a 3-1 defeat to Bengaluru FC in an Indian Super League clash at the Balewadi stadium here on Thursday. The Stallions ended the match with 10 men for the second successive time after Baljit Sahni's second half dismissal.Pune's Adil Khan scored for the second time in a row before Miku's brace and Sunil Chhetri's late strike sealed the points for the visitors.Bengaluru FC keep their place at the top of the table with 12 points from 5 games while FC Pune City stay in 4th place with 9 points from 6 games. Bengaluru centre-back Rahul Bheke almost gifted his former club a goal in the 9th minute after his slip sent Emiliano Alfaro through. But BFC keeper Lalthuammawia Ralte was alert to the danger and came off his line to thwart the Uruguayan.In the 26th minute, skipper Sunil Chhetri had the visitors' first shot on target after his free-kick was saved by Vishal Kaith.The Stallions then broke the deadlock with a superb goal in the 35th minute. Diego's flick fell into the path of Marcos Tebar who fed Isaac Vanmalsawma on the left flank. Isaac's cross towards the far post was met by a diving header from Adil Khan.In search of an equaliser, the visitors started the second half brightly and Chhetri tested Kaith after intercepting Gurtej Singh's cross-field pass, but the keeper was equal to it. The Stallions launched a counter-attack from the loose ball and Alfaro slipped Diego in but the Brazilian's put his effort wide after cutting in on his weaker left foot.