Bengaluru hammer CIL 11-0

Bengaluru FC Media

Champions Bengaluru FC ended their campaign in the BDFA Super Division League on a high after a massive 11-0 win over CIL in their final league game at the Bangalore Football Stadium, on Sunday. Having already sealed their title with win over ASC three days ago, Naushad Moosa’s boys didn’t take their foot off the pedal and sealed their eleventh victory of the campaign which incidentally was also their biggest-ever win.

The victory was powered by striker Edmund Lalrindika (20’, 24’, 37’, 43’, 62’, 78’) who netted a double hat-trick along with braces from Lalnuntluanga (13’, 46’) and Lalengzama Vangchhia (15’, 39’), and a late strike from Calvin Baretto (88’). The result meant that Bengaluru ended their victorious campaign with 34 points.

In a completely one-sided affair, it was Bengaluru who dominated right from the start and broke the deadlock in the 13th minute. Striker Lalnuntluanga managed to chase down a through ball from Dawan on the right before firing home from a narrow angle from the goal line. Two minutes later, playmaker Lalengzama capitalized on some sloppy play by the rival defense outside their box and slotted home from close.

Striker Edmund scored the first of his six goals on the afternoon when he controlled Lalengzama’s delicate chip from the edge of the box to beat the rival custodian and score from close to make it 3-0. Four minutes later, Edmund had his second and BFC’s fourth when he picked up a pass from Advaith Shinde and unleashed a powerful drive straight into the top-left corner. The striker completed his hat-trick in the 37th minute with another close-range finish on Ajay Chhetri’s pass.

Lalengzama then doubled his tally as he tapped home from close after Ajay did well to get past a couple of defenders on the right inside the box before cutting it back. Edmund made it 7-0 going into the break with another top-corner finish from Prashanth Kalinga’s cutback from the left.

The breather didn’t break Bengaluru’s momentum as the Blue Colts struck inside a minute after restart with Edmund and Advaith combining well on the right before the latter set up Lalnuntluanga for an easy tap in from close.

Edmund the got his fifth of the afternoon with a good finish from Lalengzama’s pass on the edge of the box in the 62nd minute. He netted his sixth and the Blue Colts’ tenth in the 78th minute when Advaith did well to gain possession outside the rival box and dribbled past two defenders before squaring the ball to Edmund.

Attacker Calvin then sealed the 11-0 win when he finished off Ajay’s through ball from the edge of the box on the left into the far corner in the 88th minute.

South United held to 1-1 draw by Independents

South United Media 

An interesting tie that could have gone either way finished all even at 1-1 in the end with goals in either half. South United scored early post lemon-break but were unable to make the best of their impetus to close the door and let Independents back into the game. 

South United had defender Shinu and attacker Aaron D’Costa were back in their line-up after their return from suspension and injury respectively. 

South United FC began the game well on the front foot against a determined Bangalore Independents side. The action for the first 45 minutes remained firmly in the opposition half for SUFC which saw them constantly trying to break down the opposition. 

They created chances constantly but were unable to convert any of them. They continued to press the Bangalore Independents defence in the first half but found no breakthroughs. They were thwarted on a few occasions by good goalkeeping or defending, but they squandered a few where a little more composure would have meant a greater lead. 

The second half saw more of the same as SUFC pressed forward but were not as incisive in front of goal. The breakthrough for them came in the 66th minute when club captain Magesh found the back of the net with a well-placed shot. 

Soon after they scored, it began to look like they may rue their missed chances as Independents got a bit of a hold in the game and started to create chances of their own. 

Bangalore Independents struck in the 82th minute to equalise. It was a blow to SUFC and though they pressed for the win, the time was against them. They found a few more chances before the end but once again were let down by poor finishing.

South United sneak narrow win over Kickstart

South United Media

Despite missing a few key players through injury and suspension, South United FC team managed a 1-0 victory over a determined Kickstart FC. 

South United dictated all the early play keeping the ball and passing it around, but their task was made difficult by a resolute and organised Kickstart FC defence. The ball may have been South United FC’s but all the chances in the first half fell to Kickstart FC. South United FC’s goalkeeper Jayanth kept them in the game with a stellar few saves. 

Wave after wave of SUFC attacks looked toothless for most of the first half with Kickstart’s low block in defence forcing them wide on most occasions. Kickstart should’ve been ahead on several breaks they had, the most notable being their striker being played through on goal and the SUFC custodian stranded having found himself at the edge of his box with the striker bearing down on him. Jayanth rushed back into position and a moment’s indecision from the striker meant that the eventual shot was wide. 

South United spent overall at least 5 minutes of the first half playing with 10 men as their centre back Krishanu was treated for a blow to the head. He returned to the pitch for a short while, but eventually was unable to continue. 

His replacement was Kishori, which meant a reshuffle sending defensive midfielder Sharukh Rahman to slot in beside Nidhin Krishna as makeshift centre back, Sooraj moving into midfield, and Kishori leading the line. 

They remained ineffective going forward as the half drew to a close. Kickstart threatened on a couple more occasions, but their finishing let them down
The second half began with more of an ebb and flow, both sides seemed to be going for the goal, but neither could find a penetrative attack in the early minutes. 

Kickstart forged the first real chance of the second half through some clever play down the right wing on a break. The winger beat the South United left back in a footrace and played in a low cross to find a team-mate, but his ball was just behind the onrushing striker and smacked against a defender before being collected by the keeper. 

South United FC found the goal they had been looking for as Riswanali was brought down on the left flank closer to the halfway line than the goal. Magesh stood over the freekick and played Manivannan through. The little winger ran onto the ball, knocked it past the defender and ran past him to knock in a cross that found Sooraj who made no mistake with his head from 6 yards out to give his side the lead. 

Kickstart FC almost had the perfect response at the other end as they threatened from kick off, but the striker couldn’t keep his shot low under pressure from Nidhin. The goal breathed life into the South United FC attack, they seemed to find the openings they were missing earlier as Kickstart threw men forward as well. 

The last few minutes saw both sides exchanging blows but SUFC showed strength and calm to keep their lead and collect all 3 points. 

FC Bengaluru United and Bengaluru FC play a draw game

Bengaluru FC Media

Naushad Moosa’s Bengaluru FC side were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Bengaluru United in what was a physical battle for most parts in a Round-10 encounter of the BDFA Super Division League, at the Bangalore Football Stadium, in Bengaluru on Monday.

The point took the Blue Colts’ tally to 25 points with three games left to play as they stay at the summit of the Super Division.

After some end-to-end action in the opening quarter of the game, the Blue Colts finally made their possession count, breaking the deadlock from the spot in the 26th minute. Winger Leon Augustine, who caused trouble for the opposition defence with his frequent forays, was caught by Aashiq’s high foot in the United box, resulting in referee pointing to the spot. Myron stepped up and calmly converted the penalty to give Bengaluru a 1-0 led.

Moosa’s boys came close to doubling their advantage when Altamash Sayed, who had netted a brace in the previous game, unleashed a powerful shot from over 35-yards out. Swerving in the air, the midfielder was unlucky to watch his attempt cannon back into play off the crossbar, albeit bouncing inches ahead of the goal-line in the 33rd minute.

However, against the run of play it was United who levelled the scores after striker Hamza headed home from close range. The striker was at the right place at the right time and reacted quickly after an initial attempt on a corner had come off the horizontal.

The second half saw the Blue Colts attack with intent and camped in the rival half for long spells. BFC had their first chance of the second half just minutes into the second period when Myron’s long ball found Namgyal Bhutia just outside the box. The right-back controlled neatly and attempted a lob over an advanced ’keeper but his effort sailed over.

Moosa’s boys kept pushing up and had two more chances only to be denied by the rival custodian. Sairuat Kima’s header on Bhutia’s cross in from the right was parried away before another strike from Altamash was tipped over the bar. The Blue Colts were left frustrated by the rival defense who stayed back to hold them to a 1-1 draw.

Bengaluru FC play Jawahar Union next on Thursday, December 20th.

Bengaluru FC qualify for the final round of U18 Youth League

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC sealed qualification to the final phase of the Hero U18 Youth League with a comfortable 3-0 win over Ozone FC in their final zonal phase game at the Bangalore Football Stadium, in Bengaluru on Sunday. 

A brace from striker Akashdeep Singh (51’, 68’) and a late penalty kick conversion from midfielder Lalrintluanga Chawnglut (90’) handed the Blue Colts their seventh win of the campaign. The result took their tally to 21 points as they qualified for the final phase of the competition as Karnataka-Andhra zone toppers. FC Mangalore who finished second with 16 points will go into the qualifying phase. 

After an end-to-end game in the first half, it was Bengaluru who broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when Akashdeep’s close-range header from Robin Yadav’s freekick from the right found the back of the net. 

With the goal giving Bengaluru FC more confidence going forward, Akashdeep Singh doubled his and the Blue Colts’ tally in the 68th minute when he latched onto playmaker Lalrintluanga Chawnglut’s through ball on a counter attack and rounded off Ozone ’keeper Jeevan Kumar to slot home a left-footer, his 11th of the campaign. 

Bengaluru would have another goal late on as Lalrintluanga made it 3-0 with a calm penalty kick conversion in the 90th minute after Rahul Rajan had been fouled in the rival box by Ozone skipper Rohmingthanga.

Roots Football Foundation host inter academy football festival

Roots Football Foundation in association with BLK Kashyap will be hosting an inter academy football festival for the budding 11 years and below footballers. Leading football academies from the garden city will be taking part in the festival. 

Played in league cum knockout format, the festival will be played at New Age World School, Yelahanka on December 9 and 16. 

The various age categories include: 

• Under 11 (for 2007 and 2008 born)
• Under 9 (for 2009 and 2010 born)
• Under 7 (for 2011 and 2012 born) 

Under 11 and 9 age category will be played in 7-a-side (7+ 5 substitutes) format and Under 7 in 4-a-side for without goalkeepers (4 +3 substitutes).

Bengaluru cruise past Eagles 5-1, go 8-points clear at the top

Bengaluru FC Media

Bengaluru FC recorded a fifth consecutive win in dominant fashion as they brushed aside Bangalore Eagles 5-1 in a Round-7 encounter of the BDFA Super Division League at the Bangalore Football Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Friday.

A brace each from Leon Augustine (35’, 64’) and substitute Lalnuntluanga (87’, 90’) after skipper Myron Mendes’ (20’) opener handed the Blue Colts their sixth win of the campaign. The result meant Naushad Moosa’s boys took their tally to 18 points after seven games, extending their lead at the top of the table to eight points.

The game began on a sour note when Edmund Lalrindika was withdrawn after a tackle down the flank saw the Blue Colts’ striker unable to continue. Bengaluru broke the deadlock in the 20th minute as Altamash Sayed’s free-kick from the right was headed home by Myron at the second post.

The Blue Colts then doubled their advantage in the 35th when Leon struck from close range after left-back Parag Shrivas did well to keep the ball in before sending a low powerful cross into the box to Leon who timed his run well for a finish that creeped in at the far post.

Bangalore Eagles pulled one back early on in the second half when a flailing hand from Parag in the BFC box caught a cross and prompted the referee to point to the spot. Striker Gopi levelled the scores with his penalty in the 50th minute.

However, it was the Blues Colts who restored their two-goal cushion when Leon completed his brace in the 64th minute. Myron, with a delicate chip, found Leon making a run into the box on the right, and the winger found the back of the net at the far post on the volley.

Striker Lalnuntluanga, on for Edmund in the first half, struck a brace late on to complete the rout. Biswa Darjee was the provider on the first instance, setting Lalnuntluanga up with a perfectly threaded pass in the 87th minute. On the stroke of regulation time, the striker scored his second, poking Leon’s aerial ball past an advancing Abhishek in the Bangalore Eagles goal, before slotting home from close.

Bengaluru FC will next face Bangalore Independents on Tuesday, December 11.

Ten-man Bengaluru down South United 1-0

Bengaluru FC Media

Attacker Naorem Roshan Singh’s 4th minute goal was enough for Bengaluru FC to seal a fourth successive win in the BDFA Super Division League as they overcame South United FC 1-0 at the Bangalore Football Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Sunday. The win was the Blue Colts’ fifth of the campaign in six games, and took their tally to 15 points, consolidating their top spot in the standings.

The Blue Colts played with a man less for the entire second half after goalkeeper Aditya Patra was sent off for bringing down South United attacker Rizwanali outside the box in the first minute of injury time in the first half.

It was the Blue Colts who began the game aggressively and it took only four minutes for them to break the deadlock. Defender Parag Shrivas sent Roshan through in the box with a quick throw-in from the left flank on a counter attack. Roshan controlled the ball well and held off a couple of challenges before slotting it past the Jayanth Kumar in the rival goal on the bounce.

With a one goal advantage, Moosa’s boys took charge of the proceedings dominating possession in the rival half. With South United forced back, the Blue Colts had attempts on goal through Altamash Sayed and Roshan but the duo couldn’t get the better off the rival custodian.

With the first half coming to an end, Bengaluru suffered a setback when Patra was shown a straight red. The ’keeper was penalized for bringing down Rizwanali couple yards outside the box in a one-on-one situation.

Despite having a man less for the entire second half, the Blue Colts managed to dominate the proceedings and had a couple of close chances through Edmund Lalrindika and Altamash who failed to convert. Nonetheless, Bengaluru managed to defend well and seal a well-deserved win.

The Blue Colts now play Bangalore Eagles on Tuesday, December 11.