Bengaluru FC ‘B’emerge champs

A dominant Bengaluru FC ‘B’ clinched their maiden BDFA Super Division League title with a game to spare here on Thursday.

A hard-fought 1-0 win over ASC & Centre at the Bangalore Football Stadium secured BFC B’s position at the top. 

In the 88th minute, BFC ‘B’ captain Myron Mendes converted from the spot after the substitute striker Edmund Lalrindika, attempting to hold on to the ball, was brought down inside the box by the ASC defenders, leaving the match referee Leo with no choice but to award a penalty.

The Super Division was Bengaluru FC B’s second title this season after they clinched the Puttaiah Memorial Cup in October, beating MEG 2-1 in the final. Incidentally, it was Myron who scored a late winner in the Cup final too.

The Blues have an unassailable 31 points from 12 games and are 10 ahead of second-placed Ozone FC Bengaluru, who defeated Bangalore Dream United FC 1-0 earlier. 

Ozone have three more games in hand but even wins in those matches would not be enough to move past BFC.

A delighted BFC B coach Naushad Moosa credited the players for the victory. “If you see the way these boys were playing, you know that they deserve to win. As we started the league after the Puttaiah Cup, the boys promised management that they give them the league title because in five years they’ve not won it. The boys really worked hard and won it,” said Moosa.

“We have players like Edu (Edmund Lalrindika) who came in the second half. He is a striker. He is with the India under-19 team and has really impressed the coach (Carles Cuadrat). Then you have Parag (Shrivas), who is doing well and scoring a lot of goals,” he added. 

Earlier, BFC B were left frustrated by a stubborn ASC defence, who put their bodies in the line to keep the Blues from scoring. Bengaluru’s first clear chance came in the 36th minute when Altamash Syed tried a cheeky chip over the ASC goalkeeper Raj Mutum, only to see his attempt bounce off the crossbar before being dealt with by the defence.

In the 68th minute, as many as four shots on target in quick succession came from the BFC boots but ASC kept them out through some last-ditch defending. Striker Roshan Singh then had a header that looked like going in but it was saved by Raj Mutum in the nick of time.

Results: BFC B: 1 (Myron Mendes 88th) bt ASC & Centre: 0; Ozone FC Bengaluru: (Shai 56th) bt Bangalore Dream United FC: 0.