Bengaluru blank 4.25 SC 3-0 in AFC inter-zone semifinal

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC showed absolutely no signs of rust or lack of time to prepare as Albert Roca’s side turned on the style to beat North Korean side 4.25 SC 3-0 and take a big step towards the Inter-zone final on a rain-soaked night at the Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Wednesday.

Goals on either side of the break by skipper Sunil Chhetri (32nd minute, Penalty) and Udanta Singh (51st) put the Blues 2-0 up before Lenny Rodrigues joined the party with a goal in the 77th minute to give the Blues a massive advantage ahead of the away leg on September 13 in Pyongyang.

Head Coach Albert Roca handed debuts to five new signings with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Rahul Bheke, Dimas Delgado, Erik Paartalu and Antonio Dovale all featuring in the starting XI.

The Blues went on attack mode right from the word go as Udanta Singh intercepted a pass in the rival half and attempted a shot in the first minute itself which was saved by the 4.25 SC custodian. Thereafter, visitors 4.25 SC had a spell of possession where they tried to make inroads into the Blues’ box, only to be thwarted by Roca’s boys.

Having had half-chances for most part of the first half, an intelligent move around the half-hour mark opened up the rival defence and handed Bengaluru their first goal. Juanan with a long diagonal ball found Harmanjot Khabra on the flank who headed it into box for Udanta whose pace was too much for the rival keeper to handle as he brought the youngster down. Chhetri then coolly chipped in the resultant penalty kick for his third goal of the competition to hand the Blues a 1-0 lead.

Bengaluru continued to push up and almost doubled their lead three minutes from the break. Chhetri timed his run to perfection to beat the offside trap on a lobbed pass inside the box. The skipper controlled the ball and tried to chip an onrushing keeper who got a deft touch to divert it for a corner. The half ended with Bengaluru firmly in charge and a goal up.   

The Blues got off to the perfect start in the second half doubling their lead six minutes in. Udanta, once again, intelligently intercepted a pass on the right before running solo and making no mistake to slot home past Ri Kang in the rival goal.

The visitors created a few chances of their own, but the Blues’ backline led by ’keeper Gurpreet held firm under the torrential downpour. Midway through the half, Lenny Rodrigues almost pulled off a blinder. His pile driver from 30-yards out was headed for the roof of the goal, only for the keeper to palm it over.

With incessant rain pouring down, both sides were finding it difficult to control the game; however, the Blues adjusted to the water-logged pitch much better which translated into another goal. A quick release by Dovale down the left saw Chhetri run clear and float in a delightful cross to Lenny, who timed his run well at the far post to slide the ball home and seal the game.

Substitute Daniel Lalhlimpuia had a chance late on to get his name on the scoresheet, but he somehow scuffed his shot wide from inside the box as the game ended 3-0.

Bengauru return to winning ways against Minerva

AIFF Media 
Bengaluru FC Media  

Bengaluru FC broke a jinx, claiming their first win in over a month and a half as a Lenny Rodrigues header in the 17th minute gave them a 1-0 victory against Minerva Punjab FC at the Guru Nanak Stadium, in Ludhiana, on Sunday. The result marked Albert Roca’s first away win in charge of the Blues and sends them to fourth position with 16 points from 11 games.

The Blues shaped in a 4-4-2 where John Johnson returned to the centre of defence alongside Juan Gonzalez while Serbian striker Marjan Jugovic made his Bengaluru debut. And it didn’t take long for Johnson to show the kind of assuredness he brings with him, winning every aerial duel while giving Juan the freedom to join in attack. Nishu Kumar at left-back was a constant threat, taking on the Minerva defence bravely and giving enough reason for Bengaluru to throw numbers in the box in attack.

But in what was the most important ‘first’ on the day for Bengaluru, Lenny leaped high to nod home Cameron Watson’s take from the corner, a goal that marked his first since signing for the Blues in the summer.

Having learned well enough about the lack of assurance a one-goal lead has given them in the past, Bengaluru kept pressing for a second with Jugovic and CK Vineeth working hard together on a pitch that didn’t really help the cause. Jhingan saw a header from a corner bounce inches wide in the 40th minute as Bengaluru could take just the goal to the dressing room at half time.

In a second half that saw a better-adjusted Bengaluru side, Udanta Singh had a shot saved in the 49th minute before Jugovic saw his looping header float inches high of the Minerva crossbar. Looking to keep things tight and close the game, Roca threw in Harmanjot Khabra for Jugovic and Daniel Lalhlimpuia for CK Vineeth.

Lalhlimpuia had more than a few efforts to double the Blues’ lead, combining well with the skipper, but lacking the finishing touch as the Blues settled for the one-nil win.

Bengaluru next face Chennai City FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Chennai, on Wednesday.

Bengaluru FC sign Lenny Rodrigues

Bengaluru FC Media

Three days after signing Harmanjot Khabra, I-League champions Bengaluru FC have made yet another inclusion in the midfield by getting aboard Lenny Rodrigues on a season-long loan deal from ISL side FC Pune City, the club announced on Thursday. 

Standing at 6’1, the lanky twenty-nine-year-old from Goa will look to lend his experience to Albert Roca’s side having previously spent six seasons with Churchill Brothers along with loan stints with Dempo and Mohun Bagan. “This is a dream for me. I was in talks with Bengaluru when the club was formed in 2013 but things didn’t work out due to my existing commitments. It’s nice to be able to get that chance again and I want to make it count. It’s an honour to turn out for a champion side like Bengaluru’s,” said Lenny who joined the team for a training session on Thursday. 

Bengaluru coach Albert Roca said he was confident about the value addition that Lenny would bring to the squad. “We’ve been keeping an eye on Lenny and I have even been watching some old footage of him. We think he will fit well into our system and we’re glad to have him on the team,” said Roca.

Lenny, meanwhile, said he was keen to play in front of the rather vociferous home support that the Blues enjoy. “I’ve seen how loud the Bengaluru fans are and it’s fantastic the way they back the team. It will be nice to experience that on the other side this time,” he said.