Bengaluru FC sign striker Cornell Glen

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC on Monday announced the signing of striker Cornell Glen on loan until the end of the season from local side Ozone FC Bengaluru. The signing adds firepower to the Blues’ strike-force ahead of the club’s 2017 Federation Cup campaign with Serbian striker Marjan Jugovic set to miss out with injury.

Unavailable for Bengaluru’s AFC Cup games as per regulations set by the Asian Football Confederation, Glen has previously turned up for Shillong Lajong in the I-League, scoring 30 goals in 38 appearances for the Northeast outfit before loan moves to ISL side NorthEast United and Mohun Bagan. He most recently represented Ozone FC in the BDFA Super Division, though his 2nd Division I-League campaign was cut short by an injury suffered on international duty earlier this year.

“It’s an honour to be a part of such a big club. I see Bengaluru FC as arguably the biggest club in India. It’s a club that aspires to win championships and I am happy to be a part of that. Since I’ve been in India, I’ve always played to win games and that’s exactly what I intend to do here. I have a quality team around me with a very good coach and I’m looking forward to it,” said Glen, who will wear number 9 for the Blues.

The Trinidad and Tobago World Cupper replaces Serbian Marjan Jugovic on the Blues’ roster for the Federation Cup after the latter suffered a torn meniscus in training last month and continues to recover following a successful surgery. Blues’ boss Albert Roca was full of praise for 35-year-old Glen, who has represented his country on 71 occasions, scoring 24 goals.

“It’s unfortunate that we lost Marjan just as he was regaining his fitness and scoring goals, but in Cornell we have an able replacement and someone who has plenty of experience playing in India. We saw him against us in pre-season for Ozone FC and we know what he is capable of. His presence in the squad will be important as we look to put out good performances in the Federation Cup,” said Blues’ boss Albert Roca.

The Blues face Abahani Limited Dhaka in the AFC Cup on Wednesday, a fixture Glen will play no part in, before their trip to face Shillong Lajong in the opening match of the 2017 Federation Cup, at the Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, on May 8th.

Bengaluru loan Roby Norales out to Ozone FCB

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC have loaned Honduran striker Roby Norales to Second Division side Ozone FC till the end of the season, the club announced on Friday. The twenty-six-year-old who joined the Blues one game into the I-League season didn’t seem to fit into the plans of coach Albert Roca, prompting the club to trigger the move to fellow-Bengaluru side Ozone FC.

Norales, who came off the bench and scored on his Blues’ debut against Chennai City FC, replaces Ozone striker Cornell Glenn who suffered a fractured arm, ruling him out for the rest of the club’s Division Two campaign.

“After a month of working closely with Roby, the staff felt that he doesn’t fit into the team’s plans. The club spoke with the player and both agreed that it would be best to loan him out to a club where he would get more playing time. Roby has been a thorough professional and we wish him the best of luck on his new stint,” said club COO, Mustafa Ghouse. 

Bengaluru super-subs score to maintain all-win record

AIFF Media

On the auspicious day of Sankranti, in what could be termed as a South Indian Derby in the Hero I-league, Bengaluru FC, thanks to late goals from their substitutes Roby Norales and CK Vineeth, defeated Chennai City FC 2-0.

BFC started again with an all-Indian attack leaving Cameron Watson on the bench and having introduced Mandar Rao Dessai in the starting line-up.

Chennai City FC almost had the same first eleven from their last match sans the Afghani international Haroon Amiri and throwing the Brazilian forward duo Charles and Marcus in the starting eleven.

The hosts looked in superior touch from the go in their usual flair – concentrating on possession, trying to build up the game from back. Bengaluru FC were sailing through Chennai City FC defence and came close to scoring.

The first shot for the visitors came only in the 23rd minute of the match. Till then the visitors looked no match for the hosts, a team yet to settle down.

Chennai City FC defence kept doing double duty, focused more on clearing the ball rather building any attack. The strikers managed to squeeze past Bengaluru FC defence in few occasions but were ineffective in front of the goal.

Much to the wonder of supporters, Bengaluru failed to score in the first half.

At the beginning of the second-half, Chennai City FC substituted Marcus for local Bangalore boy Michael Regin.

Bengaluru FC were looking for an opening, brought in debutant Roby Norales for another debutant Mandar Rao Dessai and CK Vineeth for Daniel.

The Much awaited goal finally came in the 77th minute. The Honduran striker, Roby Norales, took advantage of a deflected ball and smashed it into the back of the net.

Bengaluru FC doubled the lead in three minutes from a dexterous cross by Udanta from the right flank, which Vineeth charging inside penalty box banged home.

What a super choice of substitution Albert Roca made, both substitutes came in the goal scoring party!

Bengaluru FC play their next game at their home in four days’ time against arch-rivals Mumbai FC.

Chennai City FC keeper Karanjit Singh was adjudged the Hero of the Match.