Bengaluru suffer final heartbreak, Minerva Punjab win 4th consecutive Hero Junior League title

AIFF & Bengaluru FC Media 

It was a heartbreaking end to what was a historic campaign for Bengaluru FC as they went down 0-2 to Minerva Punjab FC in the final of the Hero Junior League at the Kalyani Stadium in Kolkata, on Wednesday. 

In a game that they dominated from the very beginning, two counter-attacks hurt the Blue Colts as strikes from Himanshu Jangra (48’) and Tongbram Singh (65’) handed them their first defeat of the campaign in the summit clash. For the record, it was also the first time that Bengaluru conceded in the competition, having netted 89 in 12 consecutive wins leading up to the final.

Bengaluru FC began the first half on the offensive and created most of the close chances but poor finishing cost them as Lalthangliana and Rakesh Meitei both lacked the killer touch in the rival box. 

After a goalless first half, the deadlock was broken in the 48th minute by Minerva, when striker Himanshu slid it past BFC custodian Dipesh Chauhan from the edge of the box against the run of play. 

Minvera then doubled their lead in the 65th minute when Tongbram Singh netted from close. A quick counter saw the ball find Lhunminthang on the right and while his low cross was blocked by Dipesh in the BFC goal, the stray ball bounced to Tongbram who managed to get a header. While the first attempt came off the crossbar, the rebound was finally headed home by the attacker to effectively seal the game. 

Bengaluru kept on pushing throughout the final thirty-odd minutes but failed to break down the Minerva backline who defended deep. The Blue Colts however ended the game with ten men when winger Manish Chaudhary was sent off for dissent in the third minute of injury time.

Bengaluru set up Hero Junior League Final date with Minerva Punjab

AIFF Media & Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC continued their impressive run as they defeated neighbours Kerala Blasters 2-0 in dominant fashion in the semifinal of the Hero Junior League at the Kalyani Stadium, in Kolkata, on Monday. In a dominant show, a second-half brace from substitute Sonminthang Haokip (54’, 55’) was enough to send Bengaluru FC through to the grand finale of the competition further extending their one hundred percent record.

The Blue Colts followed suit of the Sub-Junior League counterparts in reaching the final as they went one step ahead of last year’s performance where they were knocked out via penalties at the same stage. In winning their twelfth consecutive game of the campaign, Bengaluru have now set up a final against defending champions Minerva Punjab FC, who sealed their place in the big game with a win over Shillong Lajong FC earlier in the day.

The Blue Colts began the game on the front foot, seizing control from the get go. They had a great chance in the 10th minute when Bekey Oram found himself in the clear in the box only to be hacked down by an onrushing Aman Kumar Sahni in the rival goal. Despite a clear two-footed challenge that failed to get a touch on the ball, referee Joyshing Thumli opted to play on much to the dismay of the Bengaluru boys.

Nonetheless, they kept their composure and continued pushing forward. Just past the half hour mark, Ajay Chorge’s boys almost took the lead when Bekey’s floated delivery in from the right found Manish at the far post whose attempt on the volley was palmed on to the crossbar by Sahni. The Blasters’ custodian once again came to his side’s rescue minutes later when he blocked Alfred Lalroutsang’s close range attempt.

It was agonizing for winger, Manish who had back-to-back attempts denied. First, his powerful left-footer from distance came off the crossbar before another close-range attempt went straight to Sahni.

Bengaluru finally converted their dominance into goals in the second half when they struck back-to-back goals ten minutes after restart. Substitute Haokip, on for Rakesh Meitei, struck a quick-fire double to put the Blue Colts in the driving seat.

The striker was sent through by playmaker Damaitphang Lyngdoh on the right before he controlled and fired a left-footed grounder past the rival ’keeper in the 54th minute. Just moments later, a quick counter attack saw Bekey release Haokip in the rival half on the right, and although his first attempt was saved by Sahni, the striker controlled and slotted home on the rebound to complete his brace.

The Blue Colts dominated majority of the proceedings thereafter and had another great chance in the final minutes of the game. Manish, sent clear with a cross from Lastborn Mawphniang, saw his header come off the crossbar for the third time on the afternoon.

Bengaluru FC now face defending champions Minerva Punjab in the final at the Kalyani Stadium on May 29.

Bengaluru U15 defeat Raman Sports Academy 12-0 in Junior League

Bengaluru FC Media

Bengaluru FC cruised to their second successive win when they demolished Raman Sports Academy 12-0 in a second round Hero Junior League encounter at the Vidyanagar Township in Bellary, on Tuesday.

Having registered a massive 20-goal win on the opening day, the Young Blues didn’t show any signs of slowing down as seven different scorers combined for another double-digit scoreline. The win also helped Ajay Chorge’s boys topple Raman Sports Academy and move into the stop spot on head-to-head record with both sides tied on six points in Group A of the Bengaluru Zone.

In what was another completely one-side affair, it was midfielder Lalthangliana (6', 31', 41', 45+1') who added to his treble in the first match with four strikes in this game, as Alfred Lalroutsang (10', 50') and Macarton Louis Nickson (19', 43') came up with a brace each. Elangbam Julenjit Singh (64'), Damaitphang Lyngdoh (74'), Manish Chaudhary (88') and Dhanaraj Y (90+4') too got their names on the scoresheet as BFC took their overall tally to 32 goals in two games.