Empire FC, winners of the BDFA ‘C’ Division league at the BFS in Bengaluru. STANDING (from left): Kamgoulemn Kipgen, Srisaravana Ganesh, Mohammed Ijas, Sharan S, Caleb Jajo, Sharath (asst coach), Mahendra Mani (head coach), Anush (physio), Gokul (manager), Akhil, Muhamed Rafi K R, Thomas Liansuanmung Zou and Sanjeev Denver Nornoha. SITTING (from left): Nohammed Nasim TP, Athul Dani Santhosh, Nithin Sagar, Furkan Shafi Khan, Letchungam Droihang, Mohammed Shaban, Salim Mushtaq, Janggulnen Haokip and Haoginlen Haokip.
Credit: DH Photo/SK Dinesh
Bengaluru: Empire FC were crowned the BDFA 'C' Division champions in just their second year of their birth at a baking hot Bangalore Football Stadium in Bengaluru here on Monday.
A splendid hat-trick from Sri Saravana Ganesh, a goal each from Kamgoulemn Kipgen and Mohammed Ijas and a Tulsi Ram own goal saw a listless Pillana Garden FC crash to a 6-1 loss.
EFC got the ball rolling with good intensity, pressing in unison and winning possessions in crucial areas.
The opening phase was always going to be tricky for PGFC as Empire, with recruits from Kashmir, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu and Kerala keeping them on their heels with every push and pass.
A sweet move from the midfield saw the ball through to Saravana, who buried it past the goalkeeper to give Empire a 1-0 lead.
Empire played a high line and were in no mood for conservative football after their first. The constant pressure was rewarded when a quality strike from Kamgoulemn put them two-nil in front.
Chances flowed like water as they were 3-0 ahead in the first 30 minutes with the final score reading 6-1.
Akhil, who was in between the sticks for Empire, had been barely troubled but could not prevent Pillanna from getting on the scoresheet as Prem J scored their only goal in the 58th minute.
A double whammy of brilliant defending by Empire and their own poor finishing meant that Pillana Garden could not add to their tally.
Ijas, who had been causing problems with some crisp passing all game, finally found a way through in the 55th minute that saw Empire wrap the final up with a tennis-like score.
Result: Empire FC: 6 (Sri Saravana Ganesh 6th, 30th, 56th, Kamgoulemn Kipgen 12th, Tulsi Ram 50th (og), Mohammed Ijas 55th) bt Pillanna Garden FC: 1 (J Prem 58th). Special Awards: Best goalkeeper: Letchungan Droihongt (EFC); Best defender: Prabhu S (PGFC); Best midfielder: Jude Abhicek (MSFC); Best forward: Gasper Anthony (PGFC).
KSFA 'C' Division: Bangalore Footies FC: 4 (Nikshaya Rao 3rd, Raul Rohan B 25th, Druvesh VN 45th, Hari Krishna R 58th) bt Basaveshwara Nagara FC: 0; FCA Bangalore: 0 drew with BSS FC: 0; DB United: 1 (Nitesh 40th) bt Vanquishers Sports: 0; Black Moon FC: 0 drew with Samba FC: 0.