<p>First-timers Bengaluru Football Club wrote a new chapter in Indian football by clinching the I-League title in their debut season courtesy a 4-2 away win over Dempo Sports Club here, with captain Sunil Chhetri fittingly netting the final goal.<br /><br />Needing a win to claim the title ahead of other established teams, Bengaluru led from start to finish on Monday.<br /><br />They scored through Sean Rooney (2nd), Robin Singh (56th), John Menyongar (79th) and captain Sunil Chhetri (90+7).<br /><br />Dempo reduced the margin through Roberto Silva (82nd) and substitute Romeo Fernandes (89th).<br /><br />After Rooney had given them a dream start in the second minute, there was no looking back. Dempo threatened a brief fightback but that was not enough to thwart Bengaluru.<br /><br />The win helped the Southern club accumulate 44 points and take an unassailable lead with one round still to be played. </p>.<p>East Bengal and Salgaocar Football Club will play for the second and third spot.<br /><br />Bengaluru needed a win from any of their last two matches to emerge triumphant but in the end it was clear that they would not leave it to the last.<br /><br />Robin scored in the 56th minute to give his team a 2-0 lead. With ten minutes left to be played, Bengaluru put the issue beyond doubt when John Menyongar made it 3-0.<br /><br />There was brief resurgence from Dempo as Brazilian midfielder Roberto Mendes da Silva pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute and Romeo Fernandes then scrambled home to make it 2-3.<br /><br />But India and Bengaluru captain Chhetri scored the winners’ fourth goal of the evening.<br />Coach Ashley Westwood was suspended for the game and assistant coach Pradyum Reddy took charge in the dugout. <br /><br />But Westwood had done enough in pre-match preparations to help his team sail through.<br />They started with a flourish when Rooney gave them a second-minute lead.<br /><br />Captain Chhetri took a quick throw in to Robin, whose shot across the goal was met with glee by Rooney past a bewildered Dempo defence.<br /><br />Dempo did not have a single shot on goal for most part of the first half and goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani had to make a double-save to keep Robin quiet from a blistering quick counter-attack.<br /><br />Rangdajied survive<br /><br />Rangdajied United FC escaped relegation after securing a point in a goalless draw against Shillong Lajong FC in front of a nearly-packed JN Stadium on Monday.<br /><br />Rangdajied, thus, ended their season with 25 points from 24 matches, leaving behind former I-League champions Churchill Brothers and Mohammedan Sporting FC in the relegation zone.<br /><br />Lajong FC, on the other hand, with 33 points from 23 outings and a match yet to be played, remained in the top tier of seven teams.<br /></p>
<p>First-timers Bengaluru Football Club wrote a new chapter in Indian football by clinching the I-League title in their debut season courtesy a 4-2 away win over Dempo Sports Club here, with captain Sunil Chhetri fittingly netting the final goal.<br /><br />Needing a win to claim the title ahead of other established teams, Bengaluru led from start to finish on Monday.<br /><br />They scored through Sean Rooney (2nd), Robin Singh (56th), John Menyongar (79th) and captain Sunil Chhetri (90+7).<br /><br />Dempo reduced the margin through Roberto Silva (82nd) and substitute Romeo Fernandes (89th).<br /><br />After Rooney had given them a dream start in the second minute, there was no looking back. Dempo threatened a brief fightback but that was not enough to thwart Bengaluru.<br /><br />The win helped the Southern club accumulate 44 points and take an unassailable lead with one round still to be played. </p>.<p>East Bengal and Salgaocar Football Club will play for the second and third spot.<br /><br />Bengaluru needed a win from any of their last two matches to emerge triumphant but in the end it was clear that they would not leave it to the last.<br /><br />Robin scored in the 56th minute to give his team a 2-0 lead. With ten minutes left to be played, Bengaluru put the issue beyond doubt when John Menyongar made it 3-0.<br /><br />There was brief resurgence from Dempo as Brazilian midfielder Roberto Mendes da Silva pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute and Romeo Fernandes then scrambled home to make it 2-3.<br /><br />But India and Bengaluru captain Chhetri scored the winners’ fourth goal of the evening.<br />Coach Ashley Westwood was suspended for the game and assistant coach Pradyum Reddy took charge in the dugout. <br /><br />But Westwood had done enough in pre-match preparations to help his team sail through.<br />They started with a flourish when Rooney gave them a second-minute lead.<br /><br />Captain Chhetri took a quick throw in to Robin, whose shot across the goal was met with glee by Rooney past a bewildered Dempo defence.<br /><br />Dempo did not have a single shot on goal for most part of the first half and goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani had to make a double-save to keep Robin quiet from a blistering quick counter-attack.<br /><br />Rangdajied survive<br /><br />Rangdajied United FC escaped relegation after securing a point in a goalless draw against Shillong Lajong FC in front of a nearly-packed JN Stadium on Monday.<br /><br />Rangdajied, thus, ended their season with 25 points from 24 matches, leaving behind former I-League champions Churchill Brothers and Mohammedan Sporting FC in the relegation zone.<br /><br />Lajong FC, on the other hand, with 33 points from 23 outings and a match yet to be played, remained in the top tier of seven teams.<br /></p>
