Menyongar released, Rooney's contract extended for a year

Dependable medio, Liberian Johnny Menyongar has been released from the team.  

Aussie Sean Rooney, having a double hernia has flown back to his country. He has signed an extension, a two-year contract. 

Gaffer states, “He’s put in a good shift, scored 11 goals (they say 10 but they called the one against United SC an own goal). He worked hard, played through the pain barrier – a double hernia for four or five games. He deserved his new contract.”

After a long season, central defender duo Curtis Osano and John Johnson will be going back, so that they’re regenerated and ready for next year. 

Jindal Steel-backed team got only one foreigner slot. According to Coach Ashley, they’ll be bringing players in, got 3-4 available all of them having Premiership experience. 

They are looking for a foreigner for the midfield or central striker role. Coach adds, “I’ve always used strength down the spine – center-forward, central midfield, central defense. So, it’ll either be a center forward or a central midfielder. 

Chidi’ brace knocks Bengaluru FC out of Federation Cup

Report: AIFF Media 

Pic: Bengaluru FC Media 

Nigerian striker Chidi Edeh notched an opportunistic second-half double to knock Airtel I-League leaders Bengaluru FC out of the 35th Federation Cup here at the MDSC Stadium in Manjeri. 

Bengaluru FC and India Captain Sunil Chhetri and Australian striker Bengaluru FC failed to convert second-half penalties while Chidi made merry off a goalkeeping gaffe for his first and a powerful long ranger for his second. The win propelled East Bengal to four points from three matches while Bengaluru FC remained rooted to the same number of points from three outings. 

Sporting Clube de Goa advanced from Group B with six points and will now play Dempo in the second semifinal on Thursday, January 23, 2014. In the other semifinal, Mohun Bagan will play Churchill Brothers on the same day. Both the matches will be played at the JLNS stadium in Kochi. 

With Sporting Clube getting the better of Rangdajied United in the first kickoff of the day, Bengaluru FC needed a win to progress to the last-four stages and on the other hand the defending champions had only pride to play for. 

Both the teams went for glory from the very beginning of the match. In the 7th minute East Bengal’s Japanese playmaker Ryuji Sueoka failed to connect a delightful cross from Shylo Malsawmtlunga. 

Chidi combined well with Shylo three minutes later to get behind the Bengaluru FC defense but his powerful left-footer sailed over the bar.

Bengaluru FC thought they had their noses in front when Sean Rooney nodded in from close but the Australian’s goal was disallowed because one of his teammates was in an offside position. 

The Airtel I-League leaders had another good chance to take the lead when Captain Chhetri swept in a low cross for Rooney who miscued his header.

The best chance of the first half came to East Bengal just at the stroke of halftime. Chidi Edeh latched on to an unconvincing clearance by Bengaluru FC and let loose a stinging effort that fizzed inches over. 

After the break though, it was all East Bengal as they capitalized on two penalty misses by Bengaluru FC. 

First it was Sunil who was brought down by Arnab Mondal after the latter failed to clear the ball in defense and the India Captain latched onto his mistake and darted forward inside the box. 

But he was tripped by a backtracking Arnab which led a penalty. Much to the despair of the full house who was cheering Sunil every time he had possession, the Indian Captain hit his spot kick straight at Gurpreet Singh.

Hardly had Bengaluru FC regrouped from the penalty miss, their custodian Pawan Kumar let in a regulation save from Chidi’s 30-yard jab at goal. The ball rolled into the net beneath the outstretched arms of Pawan.

Chidi scored again few minutes later, letting loose a rasping 30-yard right-footer from Moga’s deflected attempt. 

Sean Rooney capped a bad in office for Bengaluru FC’s when he muffed his effort wide from the spot after earning the penalty. 

East Bengal could have walked away with a three goal win had Moga's effort from a free kick not come off the crosspiece.

Bengaluru FC keen to consolidate lead at the top

Its time consolidate lead and continue the unbeaten run as Namma Bengaluru FC meet East Bengal tomorrow, 3 pm at Bangalore Football Stadium. 

Albeit the hosts will start the game as the favorite, but they will be wary of the fact that East Bengal is one of the two teams, who have beaten Bengaluru FC in this year’s I-League. The visitors had got the better of the Bangalore outfit 2-0, when they had met in their first leg encounter at Kalyani in West Bengal. However, both camps agree that at Kalyani, East Bengal had the advantage of soggy and heavy ground conditions and also the fact that it was Bengaluru FC’s first away game of the tournament. 

Chhetri’s current form is something that is giving Coach Ashley great boost! He is in red hot form, struck six goals in last three matches. 

While the rest thought Chhetri was out of touch, the Gaffer thought he was always playing well, “It was a new role for Chhetri (attacking from the flank), took time some tome to get acclimatized, and now it is paying us rich dividend.” 

Westwood points out, “I will admit that this match will be one of the toughest matches for us as East Bengal are the strongest team on paper. And with their new manager in place, they have also done well, so it will be a tough game.”

Though the team is looking forward to pocketing full points, Bengaluru’s English coach maintained that they are not looking at the game as a revenge match. “It is not a case of revenge. We have remained unbeaten at home and have always tried to pick up full points infront of the home crowd. Even on Sunday, we will try and do the same,” said Westwood.

However, there could be some concern for Westwood in defense as John Johnson, who has stood like a rock will not be able to play against East Bengal as he has picked up four yellow cards in the league. 

The visitors look a depleted side with their key members down with injury. Uga Opara, Mehtab Hussain and Joaquim Abranches are not available due to injury. However, Coach Armando Colaco is hopeful that the rest of the players will be able to deliver the goods. 

“I have always maintained that football is a team game. You cannot depend on just a few individuals and win matches. It’s a team work and I am confident that against Bengaluru FC, the team will perform well,” said Colaco. 
“I have just told the players to go out there and enjoy the game. I know Bengaluru FC is a strong team, but we are going to give a tough fight on the ground,” he added. 

Colaco pointed out that no team can be taken for granted in this season’s I-League. “No team is strong or weak in this league. It is because the quality players are spread evenly amongst all the team.  

On a given day, any team can get full three points. I think this is the most competitive I-League,” said Colaco.

Chhetri’s third consecutive brace inspires Bengaluru FC for third straight away win

AIFF Media

A third consecutive brace from India captain Sunil Chhetri inspired Bengaluru FC to a thrilling 3-2 win over Mohammedan Sporting in a round 14 clash of the Airtel I-League at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. 

John Menyongar put Bengaluru in front in the first half but Mohammedan equalized through Josimar just before the interval. Chhetri restored Bengaluru’s lead at the start of the second period but Josimar soon restored parity to set up a thrilling final half hour. 

Chhetri ensured a fourth straight win for his club by bagging his second as the league leaders took their points tally to 27 from 13 matches while Mohammedan Sporting remain tenth with 13 points from 12 outings. 

Having been held to a hat trick of goalless draws at home, Mohammedan Sporting were desperate for three points and made an explosive start to the game with Nirmal Chettri nearly scoring from a Rakesh Masih corner. The home side also had a strong penalty appeal when Penn Orji was appeared to have brought down by Curtis Osano. 

Bengaluru weathered the early Mohammedan pressure and took the lead in the 21st minute when Menyongar scored after a cleverly worked corner. Beikhokhei Beingaichho played the flag kick short to Menyongar whose left-footer beat Ashok Singh at his near post. 

Despite going behind Mohammedan continued to create chances with Nirmal, Ashim Biswas and Josimar all going close. 

At the other end, Sean Rooney was guilty of wasting a golden opportunity and Mohammedan profited by equalizing in first half stoppage time through Josimar, whose weak attempt somehow beat Pawan Kumar in the Bengaluru goal.
Bengaluru made a bright start in the second period and went back in front from another innovative corner. Thoi Singh picked out Chhetri just outside the box and the India captain scored with a thunderous volley. 

It was end-to-end stuff after with Rooney and Chhetri nearly increasing Bengaluru’s advantage but it was Mohammedan who scored the next goal of the game. 

Penn set up substitute Syed Rahim Nabi, whose shot was saved by Pawan but Josimar found the back of the net from the rebound. 

Neither side was going to settle for a point in this game so both pushed for the next goal and it was Bengaluru who restored their lead and once again it was from a corner. 

Chhetri got away from his marker and scored past Ashok to take his tally to eight for the season, only one behind current top scorer Josimar, who has scored nine of Mohammedan’s 12 goals. 

The hosts created plenty of openings in the final stages with Penn in particular looking dangerous but they just couldn’t find the equaliser. 

Bengaluru held on despite the injury to their goalkeeper Pawan, who was replaced by Bruno Colaco.

Bengaluru FC look for fourth straight win

Namma Bengaluru FC, leading the I-League table with 24 points (from 12 outings) will be meeting Mohammedan Sporting at the latter's home turf tomorrow. Bengaluru FC edged past 2-1 when the teams clashed in October 10 in the Bangalore Football Stadium. 

Regardless of tomorrow’s result, our Steel men would still lead the points table as their nearest rivals Sporting Clube De Goa not in action this round. However, looks like Bengaluru FC is set to win their 4th straight win as their opponent have been held to a hat trick of goalless draws at home. To rub more salt, they were beaten 3-2 by Army XI in the Calcutta Football League last weekend. Currently Mohammedan Sporting are 10th in the Airtel I-League with 13 points. 

Bengaluru FC are possibly stronger than they were two months ago because they are no longer relying only on their home form. Gaffer Ashley’s side have won their last two away matches, both in Goa, including the 3-1 win over Churchill Brothers in the last round. 

Ashley Westwood said, “They’re a decent side, got some good foreigners. It’s going to be a tough game and obviously we’re playing away from home again.”
Both sides are unbeaten in their last four games but Bengaluru have also managed three straight wins and much of it has been down to the form of club and India captain Sunil Chhetri, who has netted back-to-back braces. He is currently the highest Indian scorer with six and not far away from the tally of overall top scorer Darryl Duffy, who has eight. 

Another away win will strengthen the Bengaluru squad’s belief of mounting a serious title challenge but they lost 2-0 to East Bengal in their last visit to Kolkata and coach Westwood remains cautious. 

Match will be played tomorrow, Wednesday, 2 pm, at the Salt Lake Stadium.

Bengaluru FC on a roll, second successive away win in Goa

Churchill Brothers Sports Club’s defensive frailties came back to haunt them as Bengaluru FC feasted on the opportunities for a 3-1 victory at the Duler Stadium, Goa, on Friday. 

Bengaluru FC started cautiously and had to wait for a long time to create openings. But after a dull 45 minutes, the visitors turned on the screws on their rivals, striking through goals from Sean Rooney (49th minute) and Sunil Chhetri (64th minute) to enjoy a 2-0 lead. 

Substitute Balwant Singh struck a gem of a goal to infuse life in the game in the 74th minute but the visitors heaped more misery on Churchill with Chhetri scoring another goal just a minute later. 

The win helped Bengaluru FC open a five point gap at the top of the league ladder, while Churchill Brothers were consigned to the bottom of the pool.
Both teams were unwilling to take risks at the start of the game and it needed 15 minutes for the first action to set it. It came from the visiting end, and through a free kick which Sean Rooney won and then smashed the resultant attempt into the side post. 

That was Bengaluru’s only attempt on goal in the first 45 minutes as Churchill slowly began to enforce themselves. India midfielder Lenny Rodrigues picked up Yasser Shahen inside the danger zone, and the Syrian striker did well to beat his marker with a body feint, but ended up with a weak attempt.
Egyptian midfielder Abdel Hamid Shabana then found Shahen again but BFC goalkeeper Pawan Kumar remained alert to the danger. 

The match turned into an entertaining contest after the change of ends.
Four minutes into the second half, Bengaluru FC tasted success as Rooney was allowed plenty of space to head home Lalrozama Fanai’s brilliant cross from the left. 

Bengaluru FC made it 2-0 when another brilliant piece of work from the right from Thoi Singh saw captain Chhetri give the finishing touches. 

Churchill seemed down and out but substitute striker Balwant Singh provided them with a glimmer of hope as his top-draw effort from just outside the box beat a diving Pawan Kumar. 

But just when Churchill were beginning to feel they could get something out of the game, Chhetri – who last year led Churchill to the title – punctured their hopes, capitalizing on a nice through ball from Darren Caldeira.

High flying Bengaluru FC looks to stretch unbeaten streak in first away game

Bengaluru FC press release

Bengaluru FC are brimming with confidence yet treading with caution in equal measure as they play their first ever away game in the I-League against East Bengal at the Kalyani Stadium, in Kolkata, on Saturday. 

Riding high after the 3-1 win over Dempo earlier in the week, Ashley Westwood's boys are on top of the table and would like to get their travels started with a win. 

Though convincing and dominant in their wins in most games, Westwood knows well enough to let Bengaluru FC get complacent. "We have our ethics in place and are taking every game as it comes. East Bengal may be coming into this game with successive defeats but we're not reading too much into that. We are going to stay grounded and do the job," said Westwood on the eve of the game. 

As if a 1-3 home defeat to Dempo and an ouster from the AFC Cup weren't enough disappointments to deal with, East Bengal will be without a suspended Uga Okpara and an injured Arnab Mondal - both defenders – and Bengaluru would be keen to capitalize on the situation.  

East Bengal Coach Marcos Falopa is also likely to find alternatives for injured midfielders Ryuji Sueoka and Reisangmi Vashum. 

Westwood, meanwhile, hasn't had to alter his selection plans with a completely fit squad at his disposal.

The East Bengal defence would do well to be wary of Bengaluru FC striker Sean Rooney. The Australian has been on a fantastic run scoring five goals from as many games and would love to extend the purple patch away from Bangalore too. 

An interesting battle would be one between East Bengal strikers Chidi Edeh and James Moga and Bengaluru FC's defence that has been stingy this far, letting in just three goals in five games. While the Edeh-Moga pair may not have had many successful hunts, the duo could be more than lethal on their day.

With the AFC Cup now out of their way, East Bengal will be looking to bring semblance to their I-League campaign with a win on Saturday but will be up against a team that will throw in all to protect pole position they have rightfully staked claim on. 

Bengaluru FC remain unbeaten, stay on top of I-League table

“You can’t go down 2-0 within first 10 minutes, and then win the game!” Dempo coach Arthur Papas’ post-match view perhaps summarizes the match. 

Bengaluru’s Manipuri striker, Siam Hangal, who was adjudged the Man of the Match, opened the scoring for the hosts in the sixth minute with a superb volley from outside the box that beat a diving Dempo goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury all ends up. 

A brace by Australian striker Sean Rooney helped Bengaluru FC beat Dempo Sports Club 3-1 in their Airtel I-League encounter at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Wednesday. 

With this win Bengaluru FC maintained their unbeaten record at home as they went to the top of the table with 13 points from five matches. 

On the other hand, the Goan side lost their second match in the league and are struck on six points from as many matches. 

Sean Rooney scored the second goal the 11th minute. Sunil Chhetri entered the box from the left flank and his right rooter was punched out by Subhashish only to find Rooney lurking at the edge of the box. Rooney made no mistake in placing the ball into the far corner of the net. 

Rooney scored his second goal of the match in the 61st minute to take his tournament tally to five goals when he made a run through the centre after receiving the ball from Darren Caldeira. 

With only the goalkeeper to beat, Rooney made no mistake as he slid the ball past Subhashish to make it 3-0 for the hosts. 

Two minutes later, the visitors pulled one back, when Miranda’s curling left footer from a free kick beat the entire defence. 

After getting one goal back, the visitors piled on the pressure in the Bengaluru half but some brilliant defending by John Johnson and Curtis Osano ensured that the visitors didn’t reduce the margin further. 

Bengaluru FC completes foreigner slot, sign Sean Rooney

The newly formed Jindal-owned club from the Garden City has signed Rooney - Sean Rooney from Blacktown City FC, Australia. With this signing, Bengaluru FC completes their share of foreigners including an Asian quota player. The other foreigners include John Johnson, Curtis Osano and John Menyongar. Rooney plays as a striker and has signed Bengaluru FC on a one-year deal.

Rooney is no stranger to the I-League having played a season for Goan side Salgaocar before moving back to Australia with Blacktown. "I'm delighted to be back in India and it seems that this club is doing everything right, so it’s good to be part of it. I did speak to a few people before signing and they all had good things to say about Bengaluru FC. Along with helping the team produce a good brand of football, the aim is obviously going to be winning trophies with them," said the 24-year-old who arrived in the city late on Friday. The Australian had a successful last season with Blacktown, scoring 14 goals for the club.

Rooney’s former stints include one with Newcastle Jets in the A-League – Australia’s top tier football league and he has also had three appearances for the national under-20 team. 

"We have been tracking Sean’s performances with Blacktown and he has had a fantastic season to say the least. What he also brings with him is experience in the I-League and it’s just the combination we are looking for," said Mustafa Ghouse, CEO of JSW Sports.

"Sean has been in form, scoring 14 goals last season. If we are going to be a successful side, we're going to need goal scorers. We have a good strike force in Sunil, Robin, Karan, Malemnganba and Beikho but we like to have competition for places and Sean's signing assists that. He looks in good shape and is a player who takes care of himself on and off the field," said coach Ashley Westwood on the club’s new signing.

Profile

• Name: Sean Rooney 
• Position: Striker Age: 24 years 
• Nationality: Australian 
• Clubs: Blacktown City Demons, Newcastle Jets, Deltras, Salgaocar