JOIN USKenkre rally to edge past Ozone
Ozone FC Bengaluru were made to pay for their defensive lapses as they went down 1-2 to Kenkre FC in the second division I-League at the Bangalore Football Stadium here on Saturday.
Kenkre’s midfielder Rajib Ghorui netted the winner after rounding-off Ozone FC goalkeeper Ishan Debnath in the 65th minute. Earlier, midfielder Yogesh Kadam equalised for the visitors in the 61st minute after forward Sabeeth Sathyan had given Ozone the lead in the 56th minute.
Kenkre are placed second in Group C with three points, behind Fateh Hyderabad AFC on goal difference. Ozone are third followed by Pride Sports in fourth spot.
After enduring a frustrating first half, which saw defender Srikanth Ramu missing a header from close range, Ozone FC came alive in second period.
Sabeeth opened the scoring for Ozone when he guided a penetrating pass from Anto past the onrushing goalkeeper Melroy. However, a two-goal burst within a space of four minutes changed the game in Kenkre’s favour. In the 61st minute, Kadam levelled the scores after taking full advantage of a slip from Ramu just outside the box. Four minutes later, Ghorui found the net after dribbling past the ’keeper after receiving a pass from forward Kouassi Yao to hand visitors the lead.
There was still some drama left in the game as Kenkre’s Aravindraj Rajan was sent-off (87th) for rough play, having picked up his second yellow card from referee Venkatesh R. Despite late pressure from Ozone, Kenkre held on to walk away with three points.