Blues shine at Kanteerava, inch toward title

I-League Media
Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC registered a thumping 3-1 win against Kingfisher East Bengal tonight to get one step closer towards their second Hero I-League silverware in three years.

Both teams missed their mainstay in the central defence in the likes of John Johnson and Arnab Mondal. Side back Keegan Pereira filled in Johnson’s shoes and French international Bernard Mendy dropped back to deep defence to pair with Bello Rasaq.

Bengaluru took the first bite at the cherry in the second minute when Eugenson’s free kick looped in ominously on the top of Kingfisher East Bengal’s goal, missing the target by a few inches.

The visitors took the lead from a surprise goal on the half-hour mark via Do Dong-Hyun. As the U22 player Malsawmzuala lost the control of the ball on the half-line, Do Dong sneaked in and placed the ball neatly at the back of the net.

Perhaps Bengaluru FC needed this kick to make a come back into the game. Within two minutes, they equalized from an excellent attacking move, and this time the red & Golds defense was caught napping. North Korean striker Kim Song Yong collected the ball from the right flank, and dispatches for Eugenson Lyngdoh, who heads home in perfection.

The players headed to the dressing room with the scoreline read as 1-1.

After the lemon break, The other side of the half witnessed some urgency from the visitors, Amrinder was tested by Do Dong and Ranti Martines on a few occasions. However, much to their horror, the hosts pumped two goals in quick succession.

Kim Song Yong finally got his scoring boot on, an inch-perfect cross from Eugeneson from the left in the 64th minute found the lanky striker who did no mistake to go on to score his fifth goal in his first season of Hero I-League.

Minutes later the Blues pumped in another goal, much to the mistake by Kingfisher East Bengal goalie Rehenesh TP. A powerful long ranger from Malsawmzuala tried his luck from 25 yards out and Rehenesh could not parry it safely, to add many woes to his team.

Bengaluru FC, who already started to sense their third victory in six face-offs with the Red & Golds, saw off the last minutes cautiously.

With the momentary win, Bengaluru FC leapfrogged defending champions Mohun Bagan to the top of the table with 29 points from 14 matches whereas Kingfisher East Bengal are placed third with 24 points playing same number of matches.

Udanta, Kim rule as Bengaluru register their first win in Shillong

AIFF Media 
Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC broke the jinx beating Shillong Lajong FC by unassailable margin of 2-0 in the Hero I-League encounter at the JN Stadium tonight. Goals by Udanta Singh (36') and Kim Song Yong (82') in either half summed up the first win for the Steelmen over the Reds in Shillong.

Placed second in the standings now behind the league leaders Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC are certainly on course to stake a claim on their second Hero I-League title.

Earlier, youngster Udanta Singh started on a high note for Bengaluru FC to make a breakthrough in the fifth minute when he smashed just wide of the nets. Bengaluru continued to press hard but the efforts by John Johnson and Kim Song Yong were unable to bear results. 

Udanta, meanwhile, had another unsuccessful shy at the nets in the 20th minute. He was finally rewarded 6 minutes after the half-hour mark when he found the back of the net from close range in the second attempt. The free kick by Osano was received calmly by Kim Song Yong and delivered towards the youngster who did no mistake to net his maiden goal of the season. 

The scores remained 1-0 at half time in the favour of the away team.

Luck was surely not with Lajong today, two minutes into the second half, the Reds were deprived of a certain goal when Samuel Lalmuanpuia's screamer rattled the crossbar. 

Bengaluru FC, meanwhile, balanced out their tasks by then and were doing well on both fronts. After being turned down for an offside in the 80th minute, Kim Song Yong made sure he features in the scorers' list with a thudding header a couple of minutes later. 

A well-directed corner kick by Udanta was flicked into the net by the North Korean striker as Vishal Kaiht was completely off his position.

The score remained at 2-0 till the full time, even as Uilliams Silva was guilty of squandering an opportunity for the hosts in the stoppage time.

Bengaluru FC have the monkey off their back now and they are travelling to Goa to settle the score with Sporting Clube de Goa on 6th March. 

Kim on song - Bengaluru FC prove too strong for Lajong

AIFF Media
Bengaluru FC Media

First show of the Hero I-League season in the fortress- full of pomp and piety, the football lovers of the Garden City filled Sree Kanteerava Stadium in good numbers.

With Kolkata derby ending on a stalemate, Bengaluru FC’s 3-0 win today against Shillong Lajong FC ensured top position in the points table.

Shillong Lajong started the game from left to right. Before the spectators actually settled down, the hosts took the lead.

An error from the Lajong defense, enabled Bengaluru striker Vineet, carrying out the new striker role in perfection, pick a loose ball, and banged diagonally to the goal, out of keeper Vishal Kaith’s reach.

The match, just 37 seconds old, was the fastest goal of this season, arguably coming next to James Moga’s 14 second goal, which he scored for Pune FC against United Sikkim in the 2012-13 season.

Shillong Lajong is perhaps the youngest team in Hero I-League. The Brazilian striking duo for Lajong Uilliams and Fabio Pena, with poor touches barely proved any threat to Bengaluru.

CK Vineeth was again in action, assisting the second goal for Bengaluru FC in the 35th minute. Cutting in, Vineeth provides a square pass to Eugenson Lyngdoh, which the keeper fends off, following up, partner Kim Song Yong puts the ball back of the net.

Changing ends, Shillong Lajong started in a positive note. They forced a corner in the second minute followed by a set-piece in goal scoring vicinity, none offering any joy to the Lajong fans.

Changing ends, Shillong Lajong started in a positive note. They forced a corner in the second minute followed by a set-piece in goal scoring vicinity, none offering any joy to the Lajong fans.

Kim added another to his tally in 60th minute - a perfect thru ball from the right flank, he split Lajong defense, and slots to home. He could have been a worthy owner of hat-trick should his powerful low strike seen the back of the net instead of goal post. 

It was Kim Song Youg who bagged the Hero of the Match award.

Len and Kim to play for the Blues next season

Bengaluru FC media 

Bengaluru FC, on Wednesday, announced the signings of strikers Kim Seng-Yong and Seiminlen Doungel as the Blues are looking to build on what’s been a successful second season where they finished winners of the Federation Cup, runners-up in the I-League and made the last-16 of the AFC Cup.

North Korean Kim is no stranger to Indian football having turned out for Rangdajied United before he switched to Royal Wahingdoh last season where he played a key role in the club’s third place finish. A clinical finisher with an impressive aerial prowess, Kim will replace Australian striker Sean Rooney whose contract with the Blues has expired.

“I am extremely happy to have signed for Bengaluru FC. I consider myself lucky to have been given a chance to play for a club like this. They have done an amazing job on and off the pitch over the past two years. I am looking forward to playing under the guidance of Ashley Westwood and the rest of the staff, and I will do my best to contribute towards the team's success on all fronts,” said Kim who is on a one year deal with the club having the choice to extend it for another year.

Twenty-one-year-old Manipuri lad Doungel, who has signed a two-year deal, is the other addition to the Blues’ armoury alongside Kim.  The former East Bengal and Shillong Lajong striker said he was excited on signing for the Federation Cup champions. “It makes me happy to say that I am part of Bengaluru FC. It’s a club where I know I will improve as a player and I cannot wait to be a part of wonderful things the club does,” said Doungel.

Bengaluru FC COO, Mustafa Ghouse said the duo had caught the coaching staff’s attention for a while and that Blues were happy to have closed on their targets. “Kim and Len are both very talented players and have been on our radar for some time now. We are certain the fans will be happy to see them in the BFC blue next season, just as we are. We would also like to thank Sean Rooney whose contribution to the club in our first two season has been immense and we wish him all the best for his future endeavours,” said Ghouse.