Sanoj’s brace helped KGF BEML Sports Club defeat a scratchy Karnataka State Police (KSP) 3-1 in their BDFA Super Division league match at the Bangalore Football stadium here on Thursday.
With the victory, BEML, who earlier competed as KGF Sports Academy, now have eight points from six matches while KSP remain on seven points from five matches.
Sanoj got onto the thick of things straightaway when he struck in the first minute of the match. Anwar Hussain’s timely cross from the left saw Sanoj making no mistake to tap it past KSP custodian Nagendra.
The Cops made all efforts to equalise and put pressure on the BEML defence and the attempts almost paid off. In the 13th minute, KSP’s Girish was brought down inside the box by BEML defender Parthiban and referee Bharath Mani immediately pointed to the spot. Girish, however, made a mess of the spot-kick, firing it wide.
The Policemen kept probing the BEML defence with Sampath Kumar’s well-directed free-kick being saved by custodian Jayantha Kumar in the 36th minute. But KSP found the much-needed equaliser in the 38th minute when Karthik M scored off a Arun Kumar cross from the right.
After the interval, Sanoj completed his brace when he struck off a through ball from Rajesh in the 50th minute to give BEML a 2-1 lead.
The next 35 minutes saw some uneventful football but neither side were unable to find the back of the net.
Finally, substitute Arvind, who came in for Prathap in the 55th minute, slammed the third for BEML in the 85th minute with a fine strike from close range.
Friday’s matches: ‘A’ Division: AGORC vs LRDE (1.00 pm).
Super Division: Students Union vs Postal FC (3.00 pm).