Bengaluru United pick up three points over Garhwal FC

AIFF & FCBU Media 

FC Bengaluru United picked up three points in the Hero I-League Qualifiers 2020 with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Garhwal FC at the Kalyani Stadium on Sunday (October 11, 2020). Both sides came into the match on the back of defeats in the opening round of the competition and it was Ghana international William Opoku’s goal in the eighth minute that proved to be the difference between the two teams in the end.

After a tense start, the first half came to life towards the end with both teams creating a flurry of chances but at the breather, it was the side from Bengaluru that led by one goal.

It could have been 1-0 in the very first minute as Robert Primus volleyed a shot at goal after a melee from a corner kick, but his shot could only ruffle the side netting.

In the eighth minute though, Bengaluru United went ahead through Opoku after a quality piece of play. Midfielder Arun Kumar played in Ronaldo Oliveira with a delightful through-ball that cut the Garhwal FC defence wide open and the Goan’s one-on-one effort was saved by the keeper Sayak Barai. However, Opoku was on hand to convert the rebound as he controlled the loose ball and slammed it into the back of the net.

Richard Hood’s side continued to dominate possession as Garhwal struggled to string passes together in their own half and get past Bengaluru United’s high press. They gave the ball away in dangerous positions and in the 22nd minute, it almost led to a goal as Opoku’s effort from outside the box seemed destined for the bottom corner — only to be denied by a diving Barai.

As the match wore on, Garhwal finally started to get their act together — with midfielders Bala Alhassan and Mahip Adhikari pulling the strings. They earned a number of free-kicks in attacking positions but failed to make the most of them. 

With three minutes to go, Bengaluru should have doubled their lead as Naro Hari Shrestha found himself with a free header from close range through a brilliant cross whipped in by Vignesh. However, he could only direct it towards the keeper, who collected the ball with a big sigh of relief. 

Immediately at the other end, Garhwal were inches away from equalizing — with Uttam Rai keeping the ball in the penalty area and laying it off to Victor Philip, who cut in from the right side and curled the ball towards goal, only to see it hit the crossbar and return into play. 

Vikas Rawat’s side had another golden chance to even the scores as Bala drilled in a powerful free-kick at goal from 25 yards in first-half stoppage time. The keeper Kunzang Bhutia parried it away, but it fell straight to an onrushing Neeraj Bhandari, who fluffed his lines and skied his shot. 

After the restart, both teams continued to press for advantage in midfield with chances few and far between. At the hour mark, Mahip showed some delightful footwork down the right flank to beat his marker and sent in an inviting cross for Uttam, who attempted a diving header but could not connect properly. 

Garhwal kept up the pressure but were almost caught out on the break as Amey Ranawade found Opoku with a cross from the right wing but the Ghanain couldn’t bring the ball under his control as he overran it. 

The side in yellow continued to press for their first goal of the tournament, holding the ball better and looking to create trouble. However, they found it difficult to penetrate the Bengaluru defence and were limited to shots from distance, with Muhammed Shafeer coming closest in the 83rd minute from a long-range free-kick. 

In the end, Bengaluru held on to their lead comfortably and as a result, moved up the points table with their first win of the tournament. They return to Kalyani for their next match on Wednesday (October 14, 2020) against ARA FC while Garhwal FC will take on Bhawanipore FC, who defeated FCBU in their opener, at the VYBK, Kolkata at 12.30 PM IST on the same day. 

After the match, FC Bengaluru United head coach Richard Hood stated, “We were disappointed after the previous result and it was important for us to prove to ourselves that we can fight and play out a tough game. Securing three points gives us a strong ray of hope ahead of the upcoming fixtures.”  

FC Bengaluru United looks to bounce back after initial defeat

AIFF Media  

Having lost their respective opening games of the Hero I-League Qualifiers 2020, FC Bengaluru United and Garhwal FC will be looking to get off the mark on the points table, as they prepare to cross swords at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium in Kalyani, on Sunday, October 11, 2020 at 4.30 PM IST. 

The second match of the day from the Hero I-League Qualifiers 2020, the first tournament to be held in India post the COVID-19 Pandemic, will be streamed live on the 1Sports Facebook page.

On the eve of the match, Bengaluru head coach Richard Hood sounded cautious, stating that he expects nothing less than a “hard battle” from the Delhi-based side.

“We have maintained right from the start that there are no favourites or underdogs in this tournament and Garhwal proved us right. They are a very well-drilled unit that has everyone on the pitch playing out a very clear game plan,” said Hood. 

“They posed a serious challenge (in their last game against Mohammedan SC) for the three points right until the end with their intensity, physicality and collective play both on and off the ball. We expect nothing lesser than what we saw yesterday – a hard battle.”

Garhwal FC head coach Vikas Rawat was appreciative of the efforts put in by FC Bengaluru United to play an expansive style of football. However, he implied that his charges would have their own plans of putting the ball in the Bengaluru net. 

“Bengaluru are a strong team. We have obviously read them and seen what they are capable of. I really appreciate the efforts put in by them in the first match, though the result may not have been enough for them,” said Rawat. 

“I don’t know whether they will have the same strategy or not, but we are ready to face them. We believe in scoring. We talk a lot with our players in the dressing room about the fact that you only win matches when you score goals,” he continued. “You don’t win by defending. We have to put the ball in the opponents’ goal, but at the same time, we also have to defend properly as it is an important aspect of football.” 

Reflecting upon their 0-2 defeat against Bhawanipore FC in their opening game, Hood stressed on the importance of finding the back of the net, even though his side had dominated possession in the game. 

“It is not enough to say that we played with an attractive brand of attacking football. At this level, and more so in the play-offs, any brand of football has to be effective. Dominating possession was always a part of the plan and so was finding back of the net – our spirits and confidence rest on building awareness and belief of what must continue to happen and mistakes we don’t intend to repeat again,” stated Hood. 

Despite a narrow 0-1 loss in their opening game against Mohammedan SC, Rawat revealed that the spirits in the Garhwal camp are high, as the players have taken heart from a good performance against the Kolkata giants. 

“It was a difficult game. But it was not a heartbreak for us. We are much more motivated after the loss. We are definitely going to bounce back harder, and that is the mentality of the side,” Rawat stated. 

“There were 3-4 things in today’s training that we have done. Obviously, I can’t reveal them as of now. We’ve learnt a lot from the last game. We want to come back and play with the intention to win, and that is the mentality that everybody in the team has,” he said. 

With both the teams on the lookout for their first win in the tournament so far, Bengaluru boss Hood opined that the upcoming match would not be one for the faint-hearted, with the pace of the game set to be a rather high one from both the sides. 

“We both have our backs against the wall and there is no way out but to fight it out for three points,” said Hood. “I doubt the pace or temperament of the game will be cautious or careful from either team. It will boil down to who takes their chances better.”

Hero I-League Qualifier 2020 to get underway on October 8

AIFF Media 

The Hero I-League Qualifier 2020 is all set to kick-start the 2020-21 football season at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, and the Kalyani Municipal Stadium, in Kalyani, West Bengal, as five clubs will battle it out for a single qualification spot, beginning on Thursday, October 8, 2020. 

The Qualifiers are set to be played in a round-robin format, with the following five teams facing each other once: 

• ARA FC
• Bhawanipore FC
• Garhwal FC
• FC Bengaluru United
• Mohammedan SC

The team that finishes at the top of the table after matchday five, enters the 2020-21 Hero I-League. 

“The Hero I-League qualifiers are an important event as it gives a number of teams the chance to qualify for this pan-India league,” said AIFF Leagues CEO Mr. Sunando Dhar. 

“It is unfortunate that these teams missed out on the opportunity to gain promotion last season due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he continued. “That is why this is a unique opportunity for them to make it to the Hero I-League this season. Wishing them all the very best in their endeavors.”