Blues crowned champions

Kiran Kumar scores a brace in his teams 3-1 defeat of Rangers FC

With the scores level at 1-1 and the match evenly poised, Kiran netted twice in the second half to help Blues grab the title at the Bangalore Football stadium.

Rangers, a team comprising mostly former ITI players, did manage to hold their much young

er rivals for most part of the 35-minute first half. But Rangers’ luck ran out in the 33rd minute when Blues’ Shiva Kumar M found the back of the net with a cross-cum-shot from the right wing that beat rival custodian Satyan all ends up.

Blues showed a little more urgency at the start of the second half but totally against the run of play, Rangers scored the equaliser. Two minutes into the second stanza, Inderjith tapped in a Somu pass from the right wing.

Dinesh D and Kiran then had opportunities to put Blues ahead with only Rangers’ substitute goalkeeper Ashokan to beat. Dinesh hit straight at Ashokan while Kiran’s drive sailed over the crosspiece.

Kiran made amends for his earlier miss with a solo effort that saw him side-stepping two defenders before placing a left-footer to the left of Ashokan to put Blues 2-1 up in the 47th minute.

Blues assumed total control when Kiran finished off a beautiful passing bout in the 64th minute. Dinesh, who started the move from the centre line, passed the ball to Madan AV. After a couple of one-twos, the ball came to Kiran, on the right, who found Madan again.
The Blues’ forward rushed inside the 18-yard box as Madan sent a defence-splitting pass, and tapped in at the far post.

Results (final): Bangalore Blues: 3 (Shiva KM 33rd, Kiran Kumar S 47th, 64th) bt Rangers FC: 1 (Inderjith 37th).