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In a friendly played between the top two teams from the Garden City on Sunday morning, Ozone FC got the better of Bengaluru FC by one goal. Satish Kumar scored a brilliant goal from an Anto Xavier assist.
With Bengaluru FC scheduled to play AFC Cup Quarterfinal against Tampins Rovers on September 14, they too wanted to get some good match practice. Over past few weeks the Steelmen played friendlies against couple of Army teams and DSK Shivajians.
Albert Roca fielded a full-strength team with captain Chhetri, medio Eugenseon, and three foreigners John Johnson, Álvaro Rubio, and Cameron Watson.
Ozone have built a strong team this season. They’ve strengthened their squad with several I-League players with World Cupper Cornell Glenn scheduled to join in few weeks’ time.
Starting lineup
Ozone FCB: Nikhil, Collin, Shrikant, Chika Wali, Vivek, Dhanachandra, Arun, Vignesh, Anto Xavier, Satish Kumar, Sabeeth. Subs prateek, Vignesh, Sam, Pradeep
Bengaluru FC: Lalthuammawia, Rino Anto, Fanai, John Johnson, Guru, Alwyn George, Álvaro Rubio, Cameron Watson, Eugeneson, Sunil Chhetri, Daniel Lalhlimpuia
Bengaluru FC Media
Bengaluru FC announced the signing of Spaniards Alvaro Rubio and Juan Gonzalez as coach Albert Roca completed his roster of foreigners for the Blues this season.
Rubio (37) is a highly-experienced midfielder who spent ten seasons at Spanish club Real Valladolid (2006-2016) during which he played close to 300 games and captained the side that kept shuffling between La Liga and Segunda Division. Gonzalez (29), meanwhile, is a defender who spent two seasons each with the B teams of Deportivo and Real Madrid before moving to German club Fortuna Dusseldorf where he spent three seasons – one in the Bundesliga and two in the second division. He last played for Amercian side Rayo OKC.
The duo complete Bengaluru’s set of four foreigners after the club announced it had signed Australian midfielder Cameron Watson on Saturday. Watson, Rubio and Gonzalez arrived in the city on Sunday and took part in a session with the team on Monday morning.
While Gonzalez has signed a contract that keeps him with the Blues till the end of the season, Rubio’s term lasts till the end of the year.
“I am happy to have signed for Bengaluru FC. We trained with the team today and everyone is very welcoming. The aim is to try and understand the systems as soon as possible and I would like to use my experience to help the team to success,” said Rubio who also has appearances for the
Spanish national U-20 and U-21 sides.
Gonzalez, who even had a stint with Hungarian club Ujpest FC said he was keen to settle in soon. “I’ve come here to experience something new and I’m confident I will be able to contribute to the team’s success. I’ve left my family back home and that is tough but I’m here to do a job and do it well,” said the towering defender who stands at 1.92 meters.
Roca was confident of the kind of edge the two players would give to the squad. "Alvaro and Juan bring with them valuable experience of playing at the top level. They have played with and competed against some of the best players in world football and I have little doubt that they will give the team an advantage. They are good professionals and team players and will strengthen the squad before what is a crucial set of AFC Cup games,” he said.
Bengaluru FC Media
I-League champions Bengaluru FC have signed Australian midfielder Cameron Watson, the club announced on Friday. The twenty-nine-year-old who spent five seasons with Australian A-League side Adelaide United before turning out for Newcastle Jets last season, joins the Blues on a deal that keeps him at Bengaluru till the end of the 2016-17 season.
Watson, who fulfils the Asian player criteria, becomes the second foreigner to sign for Bengaluru after defender Johnson penned a two-year extension at the end of last season.
The Australian, whose stints include a season with the youth and reserve teams of Portuguese giants FC Porto, said he was delighted with his move to Bengaluru. “I’ve spoken to a few people and heard good things about the League. I’ve even had a word with former Bengaluru player Sean Rooney who had a lot of nice things to say about the club and I’m really looking forward to joining the team as soon as possible. I’ve been training with a local club here and keeping as fit as possible. There’s a big AFC Cup game coming up and the sooner I get there, the better,” said Watson.
Cameron hails from Melbourne and has also had appearances for the U-17 and U-20 sides of the Australian national team. Watson comes with oodles of experience having made more than 200 appearances in the A-League and has also played in the AFC Champions League with Adelaide in 2012.
A midfielder with an impressive work-rate and one who seamlessly switches between helping out in defence and attack, coach Albert Roca felt that Watson’s addition would be vital to the Blues’ plans for the season. “Cameron is a good player in a position that’s very important to the team. He has a good background playing in Australia which I think is an impressive League in terms of standard and his presence would help us grow,” said the Spaniard.
