Sporting Club Bengaluru earns qualification to I-League 2024-25

AIFF Media 

Sporting Club Bengaluru were crowned champions of the 2023-24 I-League 2 with two rounds to spare as they beat Sudeva Delhi FC 1-0 at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Monday, April 15, 2024. The Golden Tigers have been promoted to the I-League 2024-25 for the first time ever.

Formed as recently as 2022, SC Bengaluru’s instant success story is one to take note of. It all started with their title-winning campaign in the 2022-23 Bangalore Super Division, their debut season in the league. As a result, they were eligible to participate in the 2023-24 I-League 3 and went on to top Group D only by a better goal difference over Diamond Harbour FC to qualify for the play-offs.

In the I-League 3 play-offs, SC Bengaluru finished in the top three alongside Dempo SC and Sporting Clube de Goa to book their spot in the I-League 2. Monday’s win cemented their status as champions as they took their tally to 27 points from 12 matches. Their sensational league triumph was mainly made possible by their impeccable home form. The Golden Tigers won all seven of their matches at the Bangalore Football Stadium. Their tally of 23 goals so far is the highest in the eight-team league, while they also boast of the joint-best defence, having conceded only 12 goals, same as Dempo – a testimony to their dominant and unrivalled campaign.

All of this came after a rough start to the season, with a couple of losses away to United SC and Dempo in their first three games. Chandrashekar Rao Chinta’s side then went on to win seven games in a row before a 3-4 loss to Sporting Clube de Goa last week halted that run. But the narrow win over Sudeva Delhi, thanks to Shaiborlang Kharpan’s first-half strike, proved enough to seal the title in SC Bengaluru’s favour, meaning they will become the first team to represent the city in the I-League since Bengaluru FC in 2016-17.

With the champions decided, the race for the runners-up and the second promotion spot remains wide open with as many as four teams still in the hunt ahead of the last two matchdays. Dempo SC are currently in second place with 21 points, followed by FC Bengaluru United and Sudeva Delhi FC on 20 points each and Sporting Clube de Goa on 19 points.

One could perhaps see Dempo or Sporting Goa making their much-awaited return to the I-League, or Sudeva Delhi bouncing back after their relegation last season, or maybe even Bengaluru United making it two in two for the city with a first-ever promotion. The next two weeks will provide all the answers.

 

Sporting Club Bengaluru qualify for I-League 3 final round

Making a complete turnaround in the final thirty minutes of the game, Chinta Chandrasekhar Rao’s boys came back strongly with two goals down to settle for a draw in the final Group D game of I-League 3 between Diamond Harbour FC and Sporting Club Bengaluru. The draw meant both teams completing their group engagement with equal points but that ensured the Bengaluru team moving to the Final Round by the virtue of superior goal (+4) difference. 

The Kolkata-based Diamond Harbour looked a better team on paper. They took the much-needed lead at the dying moments of first half via Carlos and just when the Sporting Club were planning for a comeback to the game, they conceded the second goal from a Tuhin Sikdar strike.

After changing ends, Sporting Club took control, Diamond Harbour looked fatigued, and failed to regain composure. 

A smart header from a set-piece from experienced center back Prabin Tigga reduced the margin for Sporting. In the 81st minute of the game, Shaiborlang Kharpan brough much joy to the spectators with the equaliser that caught the Diamond Harbour defenders napping. 

The other team from Bengaluru, who were in Group C and played their games in Goa finished third in their group. 

Sporting Club Bengaluru will join the winners from other groups, Sporting Clube de Goa and Dempo Sports Club (Goa), KLASA FC (Manipur), and Kerala United FC (Kerala) in the final round of the I-League 3. 

Sporting Club Bengaluru become Super Division champion in their debut season

FC Bengaluru United needed only a point to pocket the BDFA Super Division title for the third consecutive time. However, their worst fear came true as they slumped to a 1-3 defeat to Kickstart FC. 

With today’s result, FC Bengaluru United (45) help Sporting Club Bengaluru (46) with a point ahead in the table, became BDFA Super Division champion in their debut season. Kickstart FC (42), very much on the title race till round 16, salvaged some pride by spoiling FCBU’s party, they finish in third position. 

Two bottom-placed teams Bangalore Eagles and ADE along with Jawahar Union, who failed put a team in the league are relegated to BDFA 'A' Division. 

Top Scorers: 

Princewill Emeka Olariche, Kickstart FC(20)

Kouassi Bernard YAO, Sporting Club Bengaluru (18)

 

FCBU play out 1-1 draw against Sporting Club Bengaluru

FCBU Media

In an action-packed game at the Bangalore Football Stadium, defending champions FC Bengaluru United were held to a 1-1 draw in the ongoing BDFA Super Division Championship against Sporting Club Bengaluru. 

Both teams started on a positive note, trying to create chances, but it was Sporting who seemed to wrest the early advantage. The FC Bengaluru United defense was put under pressure for the first time; the early momentum that FCBU enjoyed in their previous games was missing as Sporting looked to create strong chances. As they pressed on, it was Manoj Kannan who was the star for the FCBU in the defense, holding fort like a rock. However, despite FCBU’s best attempts, it was Sporting who got on the scoreboard in the 41st minute. A strong drive from the right wing caught two FCBU defenders on the wrong foot, and an awkward bounce for FCBU goalkeeper Srijith set up an easy chance for Sporting to convert. 

Determined to keep their unbeaten record intact, FCBU came out much stronger in the second half, looking to counterattack and create chances. A cross from Aenam in the 51st minute was headed in just wide from Mohamad Kdouh.  The very next minute, Chesterpaul’s cross was headed just above the goal post by Jairo. FCBU continued to press on strongly and it was in the 71st minute that they got on the scoreboard, courtesy of a penalty taken by Irfan Yarwad. Both teams continued to press hard in the final 20 minutes but were unable to convert any further chances as the score line ended in a hard-fought 1-1.

 

 

Sporting Club Bengaluru net five against MEG, Agniputhra beat Young Challengers

BDFA Super Division debutant Sporting Club Bengaluru notched 5-0 win over former champion MEG played at the Bangalore Football Stadium today. In the other game played at the same venue, another debutant FC Agniputhra defeated Young Challengers 1-0. 

Sporting Club Bengaluru and MEG game saw the Cote d'ivoirian striker, Bernard Yao Kouassi, who has earlier plied his trade for Real Kashmir in I-league, stole the thunder by scoring a hattrick for Sporting Club. Ashish Jha and Amey Bhatkal scored the other two goals.

The game was marred with tempers. Two of the MEG men were given marching orders in the second half, they played with 9 men from 74th minute onwards.

in the other game, Uttam Rai, former junior India international, scored the lone goal for Agniputhra against Young Challengers.

File Picture

source: FC Agniputhra Media

Dream United wallop ADE, Friends United upset Sporting Club Bengaluru

After playing 1-1 in their first BDFA Super Division game against Kodagu FC, Dream United notched a win against ADE 5-0. Stamped authority over ADE, this win will help Dream United in a long way in the league. 

Muhammed Adhilshan’s brace helped his team to take lead in the first half, followed by another brace from Jai Barman with Jiten Panjwani completing the thrashing in 80th minute.

The other game of the day saw local star-studded new comer Sporting Club Bengaluru being handed a loss by another new entrant Friends United. While the quality of the game was good from both teams, SCB rued missed chances. 

One notable chance from Friends United was striker Magesh Selva’s long ranger that gave them the win. A power packed shot from 30 yard in the 81st minute of the game saw the ball hitting the target. That was Magesh's second goal from as many matches.  

 

PIC: Dream United FC Media 

Students Union earn full points, Rebels FC loose to Sporting Club in a tight contest

Rebels FC, newly promoted Super Division team after winning A Division title last season lost out to another newcomer, Sporting Club Bengaluru in a keenly contested game at the Bangalore Football Stadium, on Wednesday. Sporting Club, asserts of having majority local boys in their rooster, were up by two goals in the first half. Rebels made 2-2 in second half, within a span of 4 minutes. When the game was likely going for a draw, Appu pulled one for Sporting Club in the 90th minute. 

Friends United FC, runner up of A Division title last season, played 1-1 game against ASC. Meitei gave a lead to the army team in 56th minute, which was negated by Friends’ striker, Karnataka Santoth Trophy player Magesh Selva. 

Thanco's Students Union pocketed 3-full points by defeating ADE 2-1 in the first game of the day.