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

Former footballer Narayanswamy passes away

Former state footballer D Narayanaswamy, 78 years, passed away on 21^st at 5.30 am. 

Bengaluru keen on getting a result against Warriors

Important games for both the Group E teams as host Bengaluru FC take on Warriors FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium tomorrow night. 

In the pre match press conference, Warriors FC coach Alex Weaver expressed the importance of tomorrow’s game, “Considering we’re coming from a bad game, we would like to treat this as a comeback. Also, we want to write off our two defeats we had so far in the AFC Cup.” 

Warriors were handed over a 6-goal defeat to Albirex Niigata in the S League on last Saturday. 

Warriors FC, which was earlier known as Singapore Armed Forces Football Club comprises three foreigners, they are yet to fill the Asian quota player. Coach sounded cautious against his opponent, “Bengaluru is a great team, ably guided by great coach Ashley. They've achieved a lot in a short time.” 

Also added his team has prepared well, “We’re well prepared, perhaps not tactically as the local league engagements kept us busy.” 

After a result that went against hosts Bengaluru FC, gaffer Ashley means business, “We have to try and get results, which we didn’t achieve in Indonesia against Persipura Jayapura. Our opponents are a good team. We've seen their previous game, which they lost badly, believe they never played like 6-0 loss!” 

Bengaluru would be missing four key players Chhetri, Robin, Eugenson, and Keegan who are out on national duty. Shankar, who scored the winner against Maziya is in U-23 camp. Also, doubtful is John Johnson, who got injured and was replaced early against Persipura.  

“Always tough to miss key players, We’re trying to fly Shankar home for tomorrow’s match. For Johnson, we have to take a call later today evening.” Gaffer also adds, “It is up to the new players to play well, an opportunity to prove their worth, and stake claim in the squad.” 

Warriors captain Daniel Bennett  said, “Players loves competition, play abroad rather than concentrating in the S-League. It is a great opportunity, especially for the youngsters to express themselves.” 

Bikhokhei who had previously played AFC Cup for East Bengal summed-up the mood of the camp, “Earlier it was only for the sake of playing, but here we've the urge to play well, and qualify for the next round.”  

Bengaluru carry on their momentum, crush Lajong

10-men down Bengaluru FC showed no sign of any protective-approach and they trounced Shillong Lajong FC 2-0 at the Kanteerava Stadium.

BFC looked sharp on the pitch today, midfield performed smoothly, and set balls up for Robin.

Robin Singh came close to goal scoring in the very first minute, he then forced a corner. In a counter from Shillong, Durga Boro set one for Cornell Glenn, which the later shot wide.

Past few minutes, a goal-bound melee from Beikhokhei’s floater which Robin Singh failed to convert. From then on they raided opposition’s defense at regular intervals. 

Local boy Shankar got a memorable start in the Hero I-League, his precision center from the right flank helped Robin Singh to score his first home goal of the season.

Last five minutes of the first half proved taxing for the Steelmen. Central defender Curtis Osano was shown the red card after committing a serious challenge on Cornell Glenn. That was by another drama when BFC keeper Ralte failed to collect the ball cleanly, Seimilen Doungel failed to latch on to the opportunity. That could have given the much-needed equalizer for the visitors. 

Robin got another chance in the second minute post lemon break, a sloppy work in defense from Nim Dorjee gave the tall striker to score his double, which he couldn’t convert. 

Playing with 10 men, BFC gaffer sacrificed a midfielder for a central defender. However, that did not refrain from taking industrious attempts. Perhaps that resulted in the second goal when Thoi Singh scored one from Eugenson Lyngdoh’s perfect cross.  

The visitors left listless in the second half. 

Thoi Singh was awarded the Man of the Match.

Bengaluru to continue with the winning momentum

Less than a week after recording their first home win in the Hero I-League, the Blues from the Garden City are back at their Fortress when they meet Shillong Lajong FC tomorrow. 

The team from Meghalaya did not have the best of the start - 3 losses and only a win after making the best finish (Sixth) in previous season! 

Speaking to media, Shillong coach Thangboi Singto attributed the struggle to his foreign players, “Most of the time foreigners make difference in I-League, unfortunately for us, foreigners joined late. We've only 3 for now, fourth foreigner is yet to join us.”, said Thangboi. 

With the motto of the promoting football in North-East, the team comprise of players only from North-East barring foreigners and goalkeepers.

The newly laid natural turf of the match venue has failed to impress Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood. The gaffer is not mincing words, “This pitch is perhaps the worst pitch in the country.” He adds, “Not a good surface - uneven and bumpy, deepened by the dew-factor of the night, which causes the ball to move fast.” 

In keeper Lalthuammawia Ralte, defender Lalchhuan Mawia, and medio Eugeneson Lyngdoh Bengaluru have several players in their starting lineup who were once a part of Shillong Lajong FC. That would help the visitors as they are aware of their playing style. However, Thangboi overturned the theory, “tomorrow’s match is not about individuals, Bengaluru play as a unit.”, quipped coach. 

Shillong defender Robing Gurung sprained his thigh muscle, he seems to be 50-50 for tomorrow's encounter. 

The match between Bengaluru FC and Shillong Lajong FC is slated to start tomorrow, Saturday, 14 PM, Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore. 

Westwood: We are ready for our first win of the season on home turf

After a week of exciting football away from home, Bengaluru FC is back in the fortress as they take on the new entrant in Indian football, Bharat FC on Sunday evening.

It can be again termed as a clash between the two professional clubs. Winning last edition of I League and Hero Federation Cup this year, Jindal Steel backed Bengaluru FC have already proved their presence in Indian football. Another corporate-backed team from Pune made their debut this year - Bharat FC promoted by the Kalyani Group.

The Steelmen perhaps didn't make the best start in Hero I League this season, only a point in two home matches, however their matches away from home have contributed more positives – a hard fought loss against East Bengal after dominating the first half and a thumping win against the then league leaders Royal Wahingdoh. Not to forget another valiant outing in AFC Champions League preliminary play-off tie against Johor Darul Ta’zim in Malaysia, which they went down in extra time. 

Bharat FC too did not have an ideal start to their Hero I-League campaign. With only a point from two matches, they surely would look to add a few from this away encounter. 

They have a strong Bangalore presence in their team. Crowd cheering the local heroes can work for Bharat FC. The midfielders - attacking medio Gunashekar Vignesh, defensive medio Jayashelan Prasad, and Lester Fernandez are Namma-Bangalore boys, and so is their assistant coach Stanly Rozario. 

Speaking to the press today afternoon, the Bengaluru FC gaffer gave a brief account of AFC Champions League play-off experience. He will be fielding a fully fit team sans injury or card problems. “We are ready for our first win of the season on home turf”, assures Ashley. 

Bharat FCs English coach from Wolverhampton Stuart Watkiss is trying to get a feel of Indian football. It will take few more matches for him to come up with an absolute strategy. He’s looked content with the current squad, which is, for now without a fourth foreigner. They’ve signed few good players on loan.  Captain Gourmangi Singh looks uncertain for the match, coach will take a decision tomorrow morning only after a fitness test. 

The match between Bengaluru FC and Bharat FC is slated to start tomorrow, Sunday, 7 PM, Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore. 

Bengaluru open their winning account in Hero I-League

A brace from Thoi Singh with nicely complemented one goal each by Eugeneson Lyngdoh and CK Vineeth helped Bengaluru FC (BFC) to get their Hero I-League campaign going. 

Ashley Westwood handed starts to Vineeth, Thoi and Lalchhuanmawia and the trio vindicated the gaffer’s decision. While Vineeth rose to nod home a Rino Anto cross, Lalchhuanmawia picked out Lyngdoh with a peach of a ball which the midfielder brought down with class before calmly placing the ball on ’keeper Nikhil Bernard’s right. Thoi’s brace included a poacher’s goal and a cultured finish after running with the ball from the half line.

CK Vineeth scored his first goal for the BFC – a perfectly placed header in the 34^th minute before an impeccable Eugeneson Lyngdoh finish. Thoi Singh then helped himself to an eight minute brace as BFC picked their first win in the hill city. 

While the BFC would take a one-nil win as happily, the big score and clean sheet will work as the perfect injection of confidence before the key trip to Malaysia where they play Johor Darul Ta’zim on February 4. 

Coming into the game on the back of three consecutive wins, Wahingdoh had chances of their own but were denied by either resolute defending or the woodwork on three occasions. Striker Kim Yong Song was in the thick of things often but John Johnson and Curtis Osano did enough to keep him at bay. Johnson had a header of his own kept out brilliantly by Bernard in the first half.

Westwood had denied a presence of pressure in his pre-match press conference and the boys gave enough advertisement of the fact. The win takes BFC to sixth position on the table and Westwood will be keen to keep the momentum going when the team returns from Malaysia to host Bharat FC (February 8) and Shillong Lajong (February 14) in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru FC fail to break the jinx, go down against East Bengal

Bengaluru FC Media

Bengaluru FC’s East Bengal hoodoo continued when they were left to rue missed chances by the dozen as the Red and Golds were lucky to nick a goal and three points at the Salt Lake Stadium, on Wednesday.

Ashley Westwood made a statement of intent with the line-up he chose. Substitutes in the loss to Pune, Sunil Chhetri and Robin Singh were both handed starts in a team that featured Sean Rooney too. And it took as many as five minutes for the Blues to unsettle the East Bengal defence. Put through by a precise Joshua Walker ball, Robin Singh had no one but Subhashish Roychowdhury to beat. But a delay to shoot by a fraction cost the striker dear.

Only minutes later, Walker was at the helm of things himself. Skipping past a player and caressing the ball into space, the midfielder caught Roychowdhury off his line and almost scored a contender for goal of the season with the prettiest of chips only to see it ricochet off the crossbar. The rebound fell kindly for Robin but the striker’s hook was off target. The Blues made sure Roychowdhury was the busiest man in the half when Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s rasping strike from 25 yards out drew a save from the ’keeper. 

Despite numerous chances to take the lead, the Blues went into the break with the scores unchanged. Needing to make use of the major share of possession, Armando Colaco's men started the second half with renewed vigour. 

Swift on the counter and clinical down the flanks, East Bengal took the lead in the 53rd minute through Abinash Ruidas. The nippy winger found himself at the right place at the right time to slide in and finish under pressure following Ranti Martins' trap of an Arnab Mondal cross.

Handed the disadvantage early in the second half, the Blues ventured forward to find the all important equaliser with Chhetri and Beikhokhei Beingaichho running riot down the wings. The visitors responded almost immediately when Rooney slid Beingaichho through but East Bengal defender Milan Susak did well to recover and make the block.

The Blues' best chance to pull level fell to Robin when Rooney curled a peach of a cross into the area. The 24-year-old striker's glancing header missed Roychowdhury's far post by inches to keep East Bengal's lead intact. With minutes left to play in regulation time, Westwood sent on Thoi Singh and Lalchhuanmawia to put pressure on the East Bengal backline but the home side stood strong to see the game through and claim all three points. 

Bengaluru begin travels with East Bengal challenge

Bengaluru FC Media

Top two teams of last edition's I-League lock horns for the first time this season as Kolkata giants East Bengal host defending champions Bengaluru FC at the Salt Lake stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Red and Golds had suffered a disastrous campaign in the Federation Cup and have opened their Hero I-League sojourn with a 1-1 draw against Sporting Clube de Goa whereas Bengaluru FC are still fresh from a 3-1 thrashing in the hands of Pune FC in the last. 

With tomorrow's match, Bengaluru begin a key and hectic run of games over the week - playing as many as 3 games in a span of eight days including a clash with Royal Wahingdoh in chilly Shillong and the AFC Champions League trip to Malaysia.

East Bengal enjoy a 3-0 win record over Bengaluru. History and recent results may not give the Blues a big chance, Westwood has more than a resilient bunch who are no strangers to battling odds and coming out  trumps. Though last Saturday at home against Pune didn't quiet go according to plan, Westwood had a second half full of positives to pick from.

“We’ve played East Bengal three times and lost three times so it’s a record as bad as it can get and we’re happy to go into this game as underdogs. They have a good side and the crowd will be behind them. It’s going to be a good, tough game and one that we will be well prepared for,” said Westwood at the pre-game press conference on Tuesday.

Both teams have only a solitary point in their kitty, with the host having played a game less. While the East Bengal will be eager to keep their all win record against the recent Federation Cup winners intact, the travelling squad will be eager to garner their first points against the Kolkata club.

Former national footballer Murugan passes away

Former National player of the 70s Murugan passed away today, 11 am at his residence at Marikuppam, KGF.  He was not keeping well for last three months. Murugan was 71 years old and left behind his wife and 4 sons. 

Murugan was employed with MEG for 16 years, he represented his employer at various state and national level tournaments, also, played for Services and his state.

There’s a nice story about how Murugan took the beautiful game seriously. In 1958, when he was studying in 8^th standard he saw a football selection camp at Chellapa School, KGF, this was for MEG team. His friends forced him to participate. MEG coach made no mistake to identify the fantastic talent and since then there was no looking back for Murugan. 

Post his playing days, he got involved in coaching BEML teams in Bangalore and KGF and also boys from his locality.  

His body will be taken at the burial ground, Marikuppam, and the service will take place tomorrow 5 pm. 

Pune FC wins the battle of professionals

Two quick strikes by the visitors in the first half and a later in the second half sealed the fate of the Round 2 game between Bengaluru FC (BFC) and Pune FC (PFC). 

BFC gaffer Westwood pulled a surprise of sort by benching Captain Sunil Chhetri and Robin Singh. Young left back Lalchhuanmawia was in the starting lineup.  Also, central midfielder Joshua Walker made a comeback after sitting out the first match owing to injury. 

PFC started with all foreigners including their newly inducted player from Portugal Edgar Marcelino. 

The host made their first foray in the 5th minute from left by Keegan Perriera, few minutes later Thoi Singh’s long ranger missed the target. They forced 5 corners in the first half, but failed to take any advantage. 

Montenegrin international Darko Nikač scored in the 9th minute - a calm finish to the right corner of net after beating an offside trap. PFC struck once again through central defender 25th minute Luciano Sobrosa. 

It took no time for the BFC coach to bring Sunil Chhetri to the pitch replacing Keegan Perriera. The change impacted immediately with a couple of quick attacks.  

A good built up from center by Walker could have got host their first goal, a brilliant one-touch pass from Sean Rooney set the ball for Chhetri, but PFC keeper was there at the right spot which prevented from scoring. 
Post lemon break, BFC added power in their attack by bringing in Robin Singh for Beikhokhei.  

The score line could have read 3-0 for PFC should Thongkhosiem Haokip not missed a sitter in the 53rd minute. It was a matter of 20-odd minutes, when the tall striker from North-East scored an opportunistic goal from all the hard work that Ishfaq Ahmed did in the center.  

In the 88th minute medio Eugenson Lyngdoh pulled one back for the hosts.    

Pune and Bengaluru FC are the examples to follow in Indian Football: Kareem

Round 2 and the clash is between India’s two most professional clubs – Bengaluru FC (BFC) and Pune FC (PFC). Though both teams have failed to register a win in round 1, bet they are looking to win this game in the Hero I-League campaign!

Needless to say both teams are well prepared in this season, they played against each other few weeks ago during the Hero Federation Cup semifinal, where Bengaluru got the better of Pune in a hard fought battle. The former went on winning the cup.   

PFC has always been a tough opposition for BFC, they could not get past PFC in the last edition of I-League. Though BFC coach Ashley Westwood looked quite content with a draw against Dempo last week, he too is looking for a win.  

Westwood said, “We play every game to win, obviously PFC is a strong team, even they too play to win. Finally it would all come to who got the best formation and tactic in the day”. 

Pune is missing 3 players from their first squad, skipper Anas Edathodika, Prakash Thorat and Fanai Lalrempuia who were in excellent touch from the beginning of the season are out injured. 

PFC’s Moroccan coach Karim Bencherifa assures, “We have 19 players in the squad, everyone is fit and in good form.” 

PFC is bolstered by two new foreign signings - striker Darko Nikač, Montenegrin international as a marquee player and Portuguese midfielder Edgar Marcelino who had plied his trade for FC Goa in the recently concluded ISL. However, Edgar seems to be a doubtful starter on Saturday delay to clearance formalities. 

Kareem trusts in the professionalism displayed by both clubs, “PFC and BFC are the examples to follow in India Football!”

The match between Bengaluru FC and Pune FC is slated to start tomorrow, Saturday, 7 PM, Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore.

Former state footballer Mahendra Prasad passes away

Former Santosh Trophy player, Mahendra Prasad died at his residence yesterday evening owing to respiratory problem. He was 66 years old and left behind his wife and two daughters. 

Prasad started his football career with Binny Mills in the 70s, later he moved on to CIL. He joined HAL in 1978 and ITI the following year, where he played till 1990. 

While representing ITI, Prasad played on all national-level tournaments. A speedy forward in his heydays, Mahendra Prasad was often termed as a goal getter. Also, he played in the midfield position for ITI.

His body was taken to the Christian cemetery on Hosur road, where the  burial took place at 4.45 pm. KSFA and BDFA condoled the death of Mahendra Prasad. 

Bengaluru fail to get past Dempo

Sans three foreigners and regular captain Clifford Miranda, Dempo kept their defense tight and played a goalless draw against the champions Bengaluru FC (BFC).  

Pleasant weather, electric atmosphere, crowd chants, assembling to stadium an hour advance. The match between Bengaluru FC and Dempo Sports Club at Sree Kanteerava Stadium was set for an absolute humdinger. 

For Dempo, new signee Nirmal Chhetri was in the starting lineup. For BFC, last year’s star performer goalkeeper Pawan Kumar was replaced by Ralte, who has shown his nerve under the bar in Durand and Federation Cup. 

BFC kicked off, attacking from left to right, they held the edge as the visitors could field only one foreigner. Tolgay Ozbey and Haroon Fakhruddin were out injured and Costa Rican medio Carlos Hernandez could not be fielded owing to clearance issue.  

The first minute of the game saw Sunil’s floater from the right wing, which was cleared by skipper Callum Angus. A needless charge by defender Debabrata Roy to Beikhokhei, the later was booked on the 9th minute after a rough challenge on Robin Singh. 

Papas’ young Turks Romeo, Holicharan, and Mandar tried making inroads.  Some stout defending from central defenders Angus and Fulgancia Cardozo kept BFCs attack at bay. 

Dempo missed scoring opportunity twice in first half - in 21st minute a looping corner from Farncis Fernandez touched Angus’s head missed the top corner. Another one in 34th minute BFC keeper when Ralte failed to clear a Jewel Raja’s long shot and Holicharan failed to latch the opportunity on his follow-up.   

BFC earned a penalty in the 44’ minute after continuous pressure in the last 5 minutes of first half.  Angus handballed inside the box, however, Dempo keeper Kattimani guessed Sunil Chhetri’s shot on the right side.   

Both teams failed to score in the second half. 

Xavier to lead Karnataka in Santosh Trophy qualifiers

Ekalavya awardee and HAL legend Xavier Vijaykumar will lead the state team for the 69th Santosh Trophy south zone qualifiers. Assisting Xavier will be former junior international Chethan Kumar. Matches will be played at the MDSC Stadium, Manjeri, Malappuram, Kerala. 

Karnataka is placed in Group A along with host Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The other group comprises of Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, and Services.  

Team

• GoalKeeper: SMD Razak (RBI), MP Thomas (Dharwad)
• Defender: KB Nikhil Das (CIL), Prem Kumar (Income Tax), BV Chetan Kumar (Vice-Captain - Income Tax), Vivekananda (CIL), R Viiay (CIL)
• Midfielder: Xavier Vijay Kumar (Captain - Students Union), Prakash B (CIL), R Manivannan (South United), M Lokesh (Income Tax), P A Anup Theres Raj (Student Union), M Sunil Kumar (South United), Deepan P (Students Union), Shahzad KI (Mangalore)
• Forward: K Gopi (Student Union), K Kaviarasan (ADE), P Pradeep Kumar (CIL), V Vinoth Kumar (RBI), Vinu K Vargese (Mangalore) 
  Coach: JL Andrew GK coach: Shyam Shahi Manager: ST Bhoopal Chief de mission: SA Basheer

BDFA to participate in Don Bosco - Fr. Mcferran Trophy

Winner of 2011 and 2013 edition, BDFA XI is set to participate in the Don Bosco - Fr. Mcferran Trophy. The national-level invitational tournament will be played in DBYC Wisdom Town, Grant Lyon, Red Hills, Chennai. A total of 24 teams is participating this tournament, played between January 11 thru 25. 

Super Division team, ASC is the Bangalore connection in the Don Bosco - Fr. Mcferran Trophy. Other notable teams are Pune FC and Hindustan Eagles (Kerala). BDFA XI will play their first match against Tiruvallur DFA XI on Sunday, January 11, 3.30 pm. 

BDFA XI team  

• Goalkeeper: Dayalan (ADE), Kabir (South United)
• Defender: John Peter (South United), Shivakumar M (ADE), Yatish Pratap (DYES), Stephen Raj L (CIL), Keith Raymond (South United), Siva Kumar V (RWF), Kishore Kumar (Young Challengers) 
• Mid-fielder: M Suji Kumar (Captain-Students Union),  Sukesh Leon (Students Union), Sridhar M (CIL), ManiMaran (Young Challengers), Akash (South United), Karthick (Bangalore Independents), Gouri Shankar A (DYES), Sudarshan V L (South United)
• Strikers: Pravaruth (South United), Raj Kiran P (ADE), Shaik Inayath (Jawahar Union), Deepak R (ADE), Tony Luiz Robert (South United), 
• Manager: Mohd Imtiaz 
• Coach: R Mohan
• Asst.Coach: R Gopal

Fixture

• FINAL - Sunday, January 25, 2015, 3 PM: ASC 0 Vs BDFA XI 1 (Anup Raj-38')  
• Semi-final: 
• BDFA XI 2(4)  Vs Arrows FC 2(2)  
• ASC 1(6) Vs ICF SA, TN 1(5) 
• Quarter final
• January 14, 2015: BDFA XI 1 (John Peter-10[pen]) Vs Hindustan Eagles 0 (winner of Hindustan Eagles Vs Kerala Police)  
• January 20, 2015: ASC 9 (A Ramesh-27', Jotin-35', 40', 52', 84', Ramachandran-45', 47', 56', 60') Vs DBYC, Kochi 0 
• Pre-Quarter final: 
• January 12, 2015: BDFA XI 1[3] (Pravaruth-25' Tie-breaker-Sujikumar, Sukesh Leon, John Peter) Vs Tiruvallur DFA XI  1[1] (Vijay-88' Tie-breaker-Apthish)   
• ASC 1 () Vs Indian Bank 0 

Individual Awards 

• Best Goalkeeper: VP Sathish Kumar (ICF, Chennai)
• Best Defender: John Peter (BDFA XI)
• Best Midfielder: Brocin (DBYC, Cochin)
• Best Attacker: Jotin Singh (ASC Bangalore)
• Best Upcoming Player: Nandakumar (Hindustan Eagles, Chennai)
• Best Upcoming Player: Lalremruata (Pune FC – Jr)
• Top Scorer: Timothy (Arrows FC, Chennai) - 5 goals

  

Puttaiah Memorial Trophy (Super Division) 2014-15 - Fixture & Results

• Match 1: December 14, 2014, 3.30 pm: ADE 0 vs Students Union 3 (Gopi-27', 78', Nirmal-88')
• Match 2: December 13, 2014, 3.30 pm: DYES 0 vs ASC 1 (Jotin Singh-21')
• Match 3: December 12, 2014, 3.30 pm: Bengaluru FC 1 (CK Vineeth) vs RWF 
• Match 4: December 15, 2014, 3.30 pm: CIL 1[4] (RC Prakash-80' [Pradeep, RC Prakash, Vijay, Deepanraj]) vs South United 1[5] (Subash-10'[Sunil, Mani, Johan Peter, Santosh, Dinesh]) 
• Semi Final 1: December 16, 2014, 3.30 pm: Match 1 Winner (Students Union) 1 (Nirmal-39') Vs Match 2 Winner (ASC) 2 (Rajib Deb-16', Rmachandran-70')
• Semi Final 2: December 17, 2014, 3.30 pm: Match 3 Winner (Bengaluru FC) 6 (CK Vineeth-6',28', Robin Singh-39', 49', 69', NS Manju-80') Vs Match 4 Winner (South United) 1 (Subash-66') 
• Final: December 20, 2014, 3 pm: ASC Vs Bengaluru FC

Prasannakumar Memorial Trophy (Division A) 2014-15 - Fixture & Results

• Match 1: December 12, 2014, 1.30 pm: LRDE 1 (Milton-3') vs Tilak Memorial 2 (Bharath-11',24') 
• Match 2: December 14, 2014, 1.30 pm: Eagles 1 (Sanoj-40') vs BUFC 5 (Bharath-5, Sharath-14', Clivert-42', 63', 67') 
• Match 3: December 15, 2014, 1.30 pm: Bangalore Independents 1 (Karthik-71') vs AGORC 3 (Avinash-48', Dada Nabeel-60', 78') 
• Match 4: December 13, 2014, 1.30 pm: Income Tax 3 (Shivakumar-6', Ramesh M-42', Premkumar-56') vs SAI 0 
• Match 5: December 16, 2014, 1.30 pm: KSP 1[7] (Nagendra-33' [Pradeep, Karthick, Rajesh, Nagendra,Dinesh.Arun, Arshad Khan]) Vs Winner of Match 1 (Tilak Memorial) 1[8] (Gowatham-64' [Kiran, Gowatham, Girish, Prakash, Karthick, Jeevan, Mervin, Sudhir])
• Match 6: December 17, 2014, 1.30 pm: Jawahar Union 0 vs Winner of Match 4 (Income Tax) 4 (Ahmed-28', Lokesh M-75', Manoj Kumar-76', Stephenson-78')
• SF - December 18, 2014, 1.30 pm: Winner of  Match 5 (Tilak Memorial) 0 vs Winner of  Match 2 (BUFC) 4 (Madhu-10', Rakesh-41', Naresh-43', Clivert-53') 
• SF - December 18, 2014, 1.30 pm: Winner of  Match 6 (Income Tax) 1 (Amul-24') vs Winner of  Match 3 (AGORC) 2 (Muralidhran-62'[P], 66')
• Final - December 20, 2014, 1.30 pm:  

[Pre-season friendlies] Bengaluru go down to Guangzhou R&F

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC ended their pre-season tour of China with a 3-0 defeat to Chinese Super League team Guangzhou R&F at the Guangzhou University Sports Complex, in Guangzhou, on Thursday. The Sven-Goran Eriksson-coached team went into half time with a 2-0 lead and put the friendly beyond doubt with a late third. 

Bengaluru came close on two occasions within a matter of minutes in the second half but Sean Rooney struck straight at the ’keeper just before CK Vineeth’s volley from an Udanta Kumam cross, came off the post. 

Just like in the game against Eastern AA, Bengaluru conceded early when striker Zhang Shao turned in the box to shoot R&F into a 4th minute lead. Ashley Westwood was forced to make an early substitution when midfielder Josh Walker had to be pulled off after landing awkwardly on his shoulder, making way for Darren Caldeira. 

The hosts went 2-0 up in the 29th minute after Guangzhou’s Zhang Yuan made most of a weak back pass, rounding ’keeper Pawan Kumar before finishing from an angle. Bengaluru FC did manage to ask the R&F defense a few questions and Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s strike from 20 yards missed the target by just a little.
Bengaluru FC stepped up their game in the second half where Westwood threw in Vineeth for Beikhokhei Beingaichho on the left. The pace on the flanks with Udanta on the right, saw Bengaluru keep the R&F defence alert.  

However, Zhang Chenlong finished matters, calmly finishing after being put through from the midfield.  

The big positive for Bengaluru was Westwood’s boys being up to the task on the physical front. The Blues’ game even drew praise from the R&F manager. “Though it was a friendly, it was a game with high intensity and that’s always good to see. I feel Bengaluru FC came strongly at us and were physically very good. It was a game we enjoyed being part of,” said Eriksson. 

Westwood said the trip was a good exercise for his team who will be vying for an AFC Champions League spot this season. “The aim of the trip was to test ourselves in Asia as we have aspirations of qualifying for the AFC Champions League. Guangzhou R&F are chasing current AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande, in the Chinese Super League so the competition we faced doesn’t get much harder,” he said.  

The gaffer was pleased with the fight his side showed in the game against a technically superior side. “We competed hard and we matched them physically and showed them our fitness which was encouraging. We came knowing we can compete at this level. Obviously, there’s a bit of a gap in terms of technical quality and Guangzhou R&F are a few years in front of us in terms of being established. These are the kind of teams we are looking forward to competing with in the future and if we keep working hard, we definitely can compete,” said Westwood. 

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Bengaluru FC to play pre-season friendlies in China

Bengaluru FC media 

Bengaluru FC, on Saturday, announced that the club would be travelling to China as part of their pre-season preparations. Scheduled to leave on Wednesday, the I-League champions will play three practice matches over two weeks. 

BFC will be taking on Hong Kong Premier League side Eastern AA on September 28. The team are current champions of the Hong Kong FA Cup and have won the First Division four times. In their second fixture, the Blues will be up against another club from Hong Kong, Kitchee SC. Kitchee are currently in the semifinals of the AFC Cup and have enjoyed much success in the League. Westwood’s team will end their trip with an October 9 game against Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F Football Club. Coached by former England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Guangzhou finished 3rd in the 2014 season of the Chinese Super League. 

Coach Ashley Westwood said the tour would be an ideal preparation given the club’s participation in Asian competitions this season. “We are really looking forward to test ourselves in a foreign country at a different standard. We were proven and deserved champions of the I-League last season but now we are going to test ourselves at a different level. Playing some competitive games against teams from China and Hong Kong will give us an idea of how we will figure in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup. We are really grateful to the management and the owners for supporting our view and enabling us to set the benchmark of one of the most professionally run clubs in India.” 

Regrouping in July after winning the League last season, Bengaluru FC travelled to Goa for a couple of friendlies against Salgaocar and Pune FC. But the club believes the trip away from Indian shores will bode the club well for the season ahead. “The team has worked very hard to win the League last year and, as a club, we felt that they should get the best possible preparation for the AFC games and the season in general,” said Mustafa Ghouse, COO, Bengaluru FC. 

Westwood hopes his boys make the most of the chance. “Hopefully the players will relish and flourish at this opportunity the club has given them to keep improving all the time and make a name for themselves in Indian football,” he concurred.