Bengaluru play 1-1 draw with Mohun Bagan, make Hero Federation Cup semis

AIFF Media 
Bengaluru FC Media

Defending Hero Federation Cup Champions Mohun Bagan finished table toppers of Group B with seven points out of three matches, after playing out a 1-1 draw against Bengaluru FC in the ongoing 38th edition of the Hero Federation Cup in Cuttack, Odhisa today.

Both Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC qualified for the semi-final stage of the Tournament with the Blues finishing runners-up with four points out of three matches.

Alwyn George’s 12th-minute strike was cancelled by a 50th minute Sony Norde goal for Mohun Bagan as both Teams shared the points at the end of the match.

Bengaluru FC had to conjure a draw to progress to the semi-finals of the Hero Federation Cup and Alberto Roca’s team showed signs of taking the match by the scruff of the neck in the opening minutes itself. When the Blues took the lead in the 12th minute after Alwyn George cut in from the right flank and released a shot which beat Debjit Majumder on the near post and handed Bengaluru FC a solitary goal lead.

In the 30th minute, Katsumi Yusa’s header earned a reflex save from Amrinder Singh after the Japanese was found in the box by Jeje’s header, as Mohun Bagan pressed for the equaliser.

Despite Bagan dominating possession in the final third for the latter half of the first half, the Bengaluru FC defence kept out the trio of Jeje, Katsumi Yusa and Sony Norde, giving them no time at all to shoot. While Norde who usually dropped deep to collect the ball was out-muscled off possession by Bengaluru bodies in defence. The half-time scoreline read 1-0 in BFC’s favour.

In the 50th minute, Sony Norde found the back of the net after his shot from distance curled into Amrinder’s goal to level proceedings as Bagan kick-started the second half.

Bengaluru FC pressed to score again and Doungel’s shot in the 59th minute went inches over the bar minutes before Bengaluru FC were awarded a corner kick.

Playing cautiously after scoring, Mohun Bagan beefed up bodies in the midfield to counter the free-flowing attacks of Bengaluru FC. With a draw enough to get both Teams into the knock-out stage, both teams played the match cautiously, not over committing to attacks was a common sight. The full-time scoreline read 1-1 as both Teams progressed to the semi-final stage. 

Bengaluru FC script history, march into AFC Cup semifinal

Bengaluru FC Media 
AFC Media 

Bengaluru FC added a special page in their short but successful history after a 0-0 (1-0 aggregate)draw against Tampines Rovers at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday night was enough to send them to the semifinal of the AFC Cup. The game that had way more than its fair share of drama with both teams creating chances aplenty, was seen through by Albert Roca’s boys who took control of things in a strong second half show.

The win over two legs set up a semifinal date with familiar foes and Cup holders Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia, where the Blues will travel to for the first leg on September 28 at the Larkin Stadium.

Coming into the game with a 1-0 result in the home leg, Roca decided to go with an unchanged starting XI. The bench, however, had two changes with Beikhokhei Beingaichho and Gursimrat Gill coming in place of Udanta Singh and Lalchhuanmawia who missed the trip with injuries.

Bengaluru’s best chance came in the 38th minute when a freekick variation caught the Tampines defence unawares but a sliding Eugeneson Lyngdoh couldn’t get his foot to what was a delicious pass across the face of the goal from CK Vineeth.

Only a minute later, Jermain Pennant fluffed his lines from inside the box when the former Arsenal man when he lobbed a half-hearted strike over the Blues’ goal. Earlier, Tampines’ Muhammad Hafiz came close to giving the hosts a lead when he intercepted a poor pass from Nishu Kumar and set off on a free run before his strike drew a save from Amrinder Singh.

The Blues got off to a bright start in the second half and Chhetri could have handed them a vital lead in the 48th minute when he lost a defender in the box before shooting, only for Mohamad Izwan to make a save.

A far cry from the frantic first half that saw them give away possession rather cheaply, the Blues turned up with a far more controlled show that saw them string passes and hold possession for long spells in the game.

Needing a goal to keep their hopes alive and take the game to extra-time, Tampines pressed high up and came close on a few occasions through Jordan Webb and Muhammad Hafiz. But the Bengaluru defence refused to press the panic button, making vital steals and patiently building up the game from the back. In the 77th minute Chhetri and Eugeneson exchanged a smart one-two but the latter’s shot lacked the sting it needed.

The Blues should have surely put the game to bed in the third of the five minutes of additional time but late substitute Vishal Kumar’s fierce strike was kept out by Izwan and Eugeneson’s follow-up strike ricocheted off the post with the ’keeper well beaten.

But none of the missed chances would come back to bite the Indian champions who joined Dempo SC and East Bengal to become only the third club from India to make it this far in the competition. 

Amrinder, Alwyn extend Bengaluru deals

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC, on Thursday, announced that goalkeeper Amrinder Singh and Alwyn George had signed new one-year deals, which would keep them with the Blues until the end of the 2016-17 season. Amrinder, having joined Bengaluru at the beginning of 2016, makes his loan move from Pune FC permanent while the club has opted to activate the one-year extension clause on Alwyn’s contract.

Amrinder kept nine clean sheets on his way to winning the I-League’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, an accolade that the 22-year-old says played a huge part in his decision.

“I’m happy to have signed a new deal with Bengaluru FC. The progress that I’ve made as a goalkeeper at this club has helped me win the ‘I-League’s Best Goalkeeper and I’d like to thank the coaching staff, the management and the fans for all their support. I’m looking forward to another season with this club and scripting more history,” said Amrinder.

Midfielder Alwyn George, who signed from Dempo SC in the summer, has penned an extension on his current deal after a string of impressive performances; most notably in a 5-3 win against Ayeyawady United in the AFC Cup where he scored a brace.

Club COO Mustafa Ghouse said the club is delighted to have re-signed the duo, who he believes are an integral part of the Blues’ squad.

“Amrinder has been one of the standout performers at the club this season. He had to fight for this place in the squad and once he got it, he held on to it with a string of good performances. Everyone knows what a valuable signing he’s been and we’re excited to have him with us. As for Alwyn, we all know what a talent he is. He came into his own as the season progressed and we strongly believe he is one for the future and are very happy to activate the plus-one clause on his contract,” said club COO Mustafa Ghouse.