Boca lift U14 KSFA Youth Premier League title, Bengaluru FC boys complete sweep with U12 title

Bengaluru FC U12 side bagged the KSFA Youth Premier League title with a 3-0 win against Roots Football Schools, joining the U8s and U10s as Champions of their respective age groups in the competition, at the Bengaluru Football Stadium, on Sunday. 

Earlier, Boca (Yellow) Juniors India convoncingly beat FAB 3-0 to win the U14 KSFA Youth Premier League title. 

Yesterday, in the U17 age category final, Stadium FC defeated Bangalore Soccer Galaxy with a same margin of 3-0. 

The U8 and U10 age category got completed few weeks back with Bengaluru FC grabbing both the caregory. 

U17

 - Bangalore Soccer Galaxy 0 vs Stadium FC 3 (Konalis-15', Birsha-37', 75')

U14

 - Boca Yellows 3 (Phonllong-1', 6, Aryan-30') Vs FAB 0

U12

 - Roots FS 0 Vs BFC Academy 3 (Newton -8' [P], Varun-43', Kangjan-69')

    

Bangalore Soccer Galaxy and Stadium FC make it to the final of U17 KSFA Youth League

With the completion of BDFA Super Division League and Karnataka Women’s League Super Division early this week, the KSFA Youth Premier League too is coming to the business end. 

Knockout action took place yesterday with the one U14 and both U17 semifinals played at the Bangalore Football Stadium. The other U14 semifinal game and both U12 semifinals will be played today at the same venue. 

U10 final too took place yesterday at the FSV Arena where in a hard-fought match Bengaluru FC Academy boy defeated BCFC Magic 1-0. 

U17

• 20/3/2021: Bangalore Soccer Galaxy 3 Vs FC Bengaluru United 0 
  As many as three red cards (two - FCBU and one – FAB) were flashed by the match official.
• 20/3/2021: Stadium FC 1 (3) Vs Kickstart Academy 1 (1)
  Kickstart boys did well enough to hold much fancied Stadium FC, however they lost in 1-3 tie-breaker. 

U14 

• 20/3/2021: FAB 3 Vs FC Bengaluru United 1 
• 21/3/2021: Boca Yellows Vs Roots Football School 

U12 

• 21/3/2021: Bangalore Soccer Galaxy Vs Roots Football School 
• 21/3/2021: Bengaluru FC Academy Vs Raman Sports Academy

Kickstart lift Karnataka Women’s League for second time

Favorites Kickstart FC beat another title aspirant BUFC 1-0 to win the third edition of the Intimacy Karnataka Women’s League Super Division. The league came to an exciting finish where the winner was decided in the last game.

BUFC with 19 points took the field in a must-win last-round game whereas Kickstart only needed a draw to defend the title. It was the consistent Kavya P, who scored the only goal in the 32nd minute for Kickstart thus ensuring the back to back league title. 

In the earler game played today, riding on Jyoti's second minute goal, Maatru Pratishtana defeated Misaka United. With Maatru finishing the league with 20 points and BUFC failing to secure any point against Kickstart, bagged the runners up trophy, while BUFC took the third position in the points table. 

Results: 

 - Maatru Prathistana 1 (Jyoti-2) Vs Misaka United 0 

 - Kickstart FC 1 (Kavya-32') Vs BUFC 0 

Winner - Kickstart FC

Runner up - Maatru Prathistana 

Third - BUFC 

Fourth - Misaka United 

Best Player Awards

Best Goalkeeper - Jyoti Tamung (Misaka United)

Best Defender  - Komal Kumari (BUFC)

Best Midfielder - Jyothi - (Maatru Pratishtana)
Best Forward Kavya P (Kickstart FC)

 

Intimacy Karnataka Women's Super Division League go down to the wire

The third edition of the Intimacy Women's League is headed for an exciting finish with the final two games set to decide who is crowned as champions. After eight rounds, the top four in the ten-team pack all have a chance to claim the Intimacy Cup. 

With 20 points at the top of the table lie Kickstart who face Bangalore United Football Club (BUFC) who are second in the table with 19 points. The two teams have a claim to the championship where BUFC must bag three points to go to the top of the table while kickstart can be crowned the champions with a mere draw. 

Meanwhile in third and fourth place are Misaka United and Maatru Pratishtana FC at 18 and 1 7 points respectively who both have a claim to the second place should the Kickstart vs Bangalore United Football Club not end in a stalemate. 

An interesting set of games await Bengaluru tomorrow as the questions to be answered are whether the defending champions Kickstart FC Karnataka will retain the crown, whether runners up Bangalore United Football Club will dethrone Kickstart FC Karnataka or whether we will see a new second place finisher in Maatru Pratishtana FC and Misaka. 

 

FC Bengaluru United crowned Citrus Ventures BDFA Super Division 2021 champions

FCBU Media

In what was a fitting finale to an incredible campaign, FC Bengaluru United were crowned Citrus Ventures BDFA Super Division 2021 champions after they beat FC Deccan 1-0 in their twelfth and final match of the league. With the most number of goals scored in the tournament thus far and a nine-game-unbeaten run that underlined their performance, FC Bengaluru United were clearly the best team right through and sealing the championship was the perfect ending to this stellar run.  

Before this game, FC Bengaluru United were one point ahead of second placed Bengaluru FC, having beaten them 3-2 in the game on 8^th March. This win gives them an unassailable 4-point lead, even though Bengaluru FC still have a game to play.  

With Deccan FC at eighth on the points table, it was expected that FC Bengaluru United would be able to put it past them, but with the sun beating down, the going was hard for both teams. FC Bengaluru United took a while to get into the attacking groove – their first attacking shot on the goal came via a long range freekick from Ronaldo in the 15^thminute that just sailed over the bar. Deccan FC, with five men at the back, were focused more on defending resolutely, their only real chance coming in the 40^th minute, via a cross, which was dealt with the FC Bengaluru United defence. 

With both teams yet to open their account at half-time, FC Bengaluru United made two attacking substitutions – Stendly and Chaitan coming in for Anup and Vignesh - as they looked to up the ante. And the decision soon bore fruit. Following a few attacking and counter attacking plays, Stendly’s precise long range cross in the 62^nd minute was neatly put away by Robert Primus to give FC Bengaluru United the all-important lead.  

Having snuck in front and the championship in sight, FC Bengaluru United continued to keep up the pressure. Naro came on for Daniel and was soon in the thick of things – a couple of shots narrowly missing the goal with minutes to go. One more chance, beautifully set up by Asraf and Naro for Malem, just overshot the bar. In the 89^thminute, with one minute of full time and four minutes of extra to go, FC Bengaluru United decided to strengthen the defence in a bid to ensure they didn’t lose the lead bringing in wingback Ronald for Robin. No last-minute twists in extra time, unlike the game against BFC. The final scoreline - 1-0 in favour of FC Bengaluru United, the new BDFA Super Division Champions! 

 

 

BDFA postpone Super Division League matches

If sources are to be believed, Karnataka State Referee Association officials did not turn up to officiate the BDFA Super Division league matches today at the Bangalore Football Stadium. This was a decision collectively taken by the referee’s association.

Kickstart were to take on ASC in the day’s first game and Young Challengers Vs MEG were to play the second game. 

Later, BDFA Chairman, Dr. SL Anthony, issued a note citing, “Citrus Ventures Super Division League matches are postponed due to unavoidable circumstances until further notice.” 

This decision to boycott the ongoing BDFA Super Division was prompted after yesterday’s game between FCBU and Bengaluru FC where the referees were at the receiving end with pushing and shoving by the club officials and rowdy fans. It all started when Bengaluru players served a series of protests to the referee owing to several decisions in the match that went against their favor. 

From organizing point of view, what was missing in yesterday’s game was the lack of security personnel around. When two top title contenders meet, tempers are bound to flare, and sometimes, it will get loud. 

Not so long ago, the game between Bangalore Independents and Bangalore Eagles was abandoned in the second half when the later team decided to walk-off owing to a wrong decision by the referee. 

Considering such incidents are nothing new in BDFA league, BDFA should have been alert by deploying few police security at the stadium. 

Yesterday, after the game got over, several supporters came down from the stand and it looked like a free-for-all battle. The presence of police could have handled the situation in a much-matured manner. 

With the league nearing completion (only 11 games left in Super Division), this stalemate will have a cascading effect on the lower divisions (A and B) that were scheduled to start after the closing of Super Division League.  

Dying minutes winner keep title hopes alive for FC Bengaluru United

Bengaluru FC & FC Bengaluru United Media 

FC Bengaluru United (FCBU) kept their title hope alive by winning a must-win game against the favorites Bengaluru FC. In the dying minutes it was Ronaldo, who calmly tapped the ball to the back of the net and snatched a thrilling 3-2 win 

Few dubious decisions that went against Bengaluru FC marred the proceedings after the game and Bengaluru’s Harpreet was shown a red card. 

FCBU broke the deadlock in the 34th minute courtesy Asraf’s smart corner. Trinidad and Tobago international Robert Primus jumped highest from a corner and headed home at the far post to put his side 1-0 up. 

The Blue Colts were back on level terms just 13 minutes into the second half. Shivasakthi found space between the FCBU’s central defenders, got to Kalamesh’s through ball and placed his shot to the ‘keeper’s left to make it 1-1. 

It took less than five minutes for FCBU to retake the lead. From a corner, English forward Daniel Carr managed to put the ball into the far corner to put them 2-1 up.

The Blue Colts were denied a chance to restore parity when the referee refused to acknowledge Robin Gurung‘s handball in the box. However, BFC dug deep, kept attacking the FCBU goal and were rewarded deep into stoppage time. Unmarked at the edge of a box from a corner, Damaitphang got his header into the top corner with the ‘keeper well beaten. 

Despite getting the equaliser late in the game, FCBU converted the final chance of the game to lead 3-2 with virtually the last kick of the day and leapfrog the Blue Colts to the top of the table, taking the title race to the final round of the league. 

Shivasakthi comes in clutch as Bengaluru FC boys down MEG

Bengaluru FC Media 

An injury time strike from top-scorer Shivasakthi gave Bengaluru FC a 1-0 win over MEG & Centre, at the Bengaluru Football Stadium, on Thursday. The result sees the Blue Colts leapfrog FC Bengaluru United to go top of the BDFA Super Division League table with two games left to play in the competition.

In what was an evenly contested first half, both teams fought hard to assert themselves on the game throughout the opening half hour. Chances were at a premium, and it was the Blue Colts who went close to getting the opening goal on three separate occasions through Shivasakthi.

First, the no. 9 managed to wriggle past multiple challenges and beat MEG custodian Pramod Joshi with a low shot, only to see the ball bounce off the far post. Moments later, Damaitphang Lyngdoh won the ball in the middle and picked out Sivasakthi’s run into the box but the striker’s shot sailed inches wide of the far post. The Blue Colts striker saw a third chance go begging when his attempt to divert goalward from Jagdeep’s low cross went wide of the mark.

The second half saw MEG start on the front foot, and the Blue Colts defended in numbers to keep the game goalless. ’Keeper Sharon Sivan pulled off two fantastic saves, first tipping Shubham Rana’s shot over the bar and then getting his hand to Imnaakum’s effort from close range.

Pushing forward with intent, Bengaluru found their goal deep into injury time when Shivasakthi got to the end of Omega Vanlalruaituanga’s ball over the MEG backline. Having beaten defender Nitin with his first touch, the 19-year-old rounded Joshi, who had made his way out of the box, and then kept his composure to finish low past stranded MEG defenders to give the Blue Colts the win with what was the final attack of the day.

Bengaluru FC are back in action on March 8 when they take on FC Bengaluru United. A win on Monday will hand Bhoite’s side the title with an unassailable lead atop the standings.

Kickstart FC beat FC Bengaluru United

FC Bengaluru United Media 

The ongoing BDFA Super Division league got more exciting after table topper FC Bengaluru United (FCBU) went down to Kickstart FC 1-2 this evening. This was FCBU’s first defeat in tenth game, they still lead the points table having played a game more than the second placed Bengaluru FC. Kickstart return to winning ways after their loss to MEG in the previous game, they too join the title fray. 

FC Bengaluru United came out all guns blazing and were up 1-0 in the very first minute of the game. Arun’s dribble and following cross inside the box deflected off by Kickstart FC’s Satishkumr to give FCBU into an early lead. 

Kickstart FC, who have enjoyed a good run in the tournament thus far, were not be daunted. They too were soon on the attack, testing the FC Bengaluru United defense and scored the equalizer in the 19th minute – a through ball that cleared the FC Bengaluru United defense was neatly tapped in by Sudheer. 

FC Bengaluru United continued to attack, made two early substitutions, but it was Kickstart FC again who nudged ahead in the 40th minute by a defensive lapse, which Kickstart capitalized upon to grab the lead. 

FC Bengaluru United came out strong in the second half, determined to push ahead, but it was not to be. While they created several opportunities, taking advantage of a fluid Kickstart FC defense, they were unable to put in the finishing touch. Malem, Vignesh, Arun, Chaitan, Ronaldo all worked hard to create opportunities but were unable to see them through. They pressed hard, even in extra time but conversion eluded them. 

All eyes will now be on the FC Bengaluru United vs Bengaluru FC game on Monday, 8th March, whose result will play a key role in determining who will emerge at the top of the league.