Former India international Deepak Mondal joins Ozone, team to play in DSK Cup

In order to bolster defence, BDFA Super Division champion Ozone FC Bengaluru has roped in the dependable Deepak Mondal. A cadet of the Tata Football Academy batch of 1998, Mondal played for the senior national team for 12 years. This will be his 19th season in the domestic scene. Deepak played for East Bengal in the previous season. 

He’s is currently in Pune where Ozone is participating in DSK Cup. Speaking exclusively with GCSStars.com, humble Mondal said he has nothing to prove, especially after playing at the top-level for almost two decade. 

“I love the game, I am a professional player. Ozone is a new team, they’ve made a strong team this year, liked their professional approach. Should be good fun!” added the veteran. 

Ozone kick-off DSK Cup on Thursday

Ozone FC Bengaluru will be travelling to Pune to participate in the third edition of DSK Cup which is starting from tomorrow. 12 teams are divided in 4 groups, Ozone is placed in Group D along with local outfit Deccan Rovers and Salgaocar. 

Ozone’s first match is against Deccan Rovers on November 10 and the last match of the group against Salgaocar on November 14. 

Two teams from each group will at play the knock-out stage. 

Shivajians stops fine Bengaluru run in DSK Cup

BFC Media 

An extra-time goal from Cameroonian striker Aser Pierrick Dipanda consigned Bengaluru FC to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of home side DSK Shivajians A, ending the Blues’ run at the semifinal stage of the DSK Cup at the DSK Dream City football ground, in Pune, on Friday. The Blues side, comprising five academy players in the starting XI, showed tremendous levels of fitness to put on an impressive display but a goal on the counter secured progress for the hosts, who will play one of Dempo SC or Gangtok Himalayan SC in the final.

Bengaluru started on the attack, building up from midfield and recycling possession well to create a few chances down the flanks. Accompanied by a 16-year-old Shelton Paul in attack, North Korean striker Kim Song Yong came close to breaking the deadlock with a header that skimmed off the DSK woodwork in the 16^th minute.

Dipanda seemed to be at the end of every Shivajians move, with a first chance blocked by Blues’ defender Joshua Nallapalli before another attempt going high and wide of the frame at the stroke of half time.

Chances from both sides went wide in the second half as another goalless 45 minutes ensued. Bengaluru sent on U19 players Jonathan Piers and Akshay Kumar as a midfield battle ensued. Substitute Beikhokhei Beingaichho and Alwyn George combined well at the death but little changed as the first semifinal of the tournament went into extra time.

Bengaluru started on the offense in the added thirty but crosses from Beingaichho and Alwyn did little to trouble Shivajians ’keeper Abhishek Das, who did well to collect. Minutes into the second half of extra time, a long clearance from Shivajians defender Don Bosco found Dipanda in the Bengaluru third. The 26-year-old made no mistake as he placed his shot past a hapless Sharath K in the Bengaluru goal.

Bengaluru  gave it their all in search of an equalizer and almost found one when Kim headed Beingaichho’s free-kick inches wide of the target with five minutes left to play. Despite frequent forays into the DSK box, it wasn’t to be a night of comebacks.

Bengaluru down Salgaocar 3-1 to enter DSK Cup semis

Bengaluru FC Media  

Bengaluru FC booked a spot in the semifinals of the DSK Cup with a 3-1 win over Salgaocar FC at the DSK Dream City football ground, in Pune, on Wednesday. Beikhokhei Beingaichho and Alwyn George sent the Blues into a 2-0 first half lead before James Fernandes pulled one back for the Goa side. Kim Song Yong scored his fifth goal of the tournament to secure victory for the Blues, who will face DSK Shivajians A in the semifinals on Friday.

The Blues shot into an early lead with Beingaichho scoring his second goal of the tournament with a curling effort from the edge of the area that bulged the net past a diving Bruno Colaco in the Salgaocar goal.

A midfield battle ensued with both sides fighting hard for possession but it was the Blues who made the most of it with Alwyn heading home after some good work down the right flank by Blues defender NS Manju. Dribbling past two Salgaocar players, Manju sent in a curler that found the head of Alwyn, who made no mistake to double Bengaluru’s advantage at the stroke of half-time.

Salgaocar halved the deficit early in the second half with James Fernandes’ cross beating everyone in the box to sneak its way into the far post past a hapless Sharath in the BFC goal. Bengaluru, however, responded well, with shots from Manju and Alwyn inches off target.

Kim Song Yong restored Bengaluru’s two-goal lead in the 68th minute, collecting a through pass from Alwyn before slotting past a charging Colaco to make it 3-1. Clifton Dias came close to scoring Salgaocar’s second with an effort that rattled the Bengaluru woodwork but the Blues defence stood solid as they protected the lead and advanced to the last four of the tournament.