<div> Last edition’s runner-up Bengaluru FC got off to a positive start as they scored a goal in each half to down Salgaocar 2-1 in their inaugural match of the Hero I-League football here on Saturday.<br /><br />Bengaluru FC, who held upper hand throughout the match, created numerous chances and took the lead in the 5th minute through C K Vineeth.<br /><br />Darryl Duffy restored parity in the 41st minute.<br />They could have won by a bigger margin, had it not been for rival keeper Karanjit Singh, who brought off good saves.<br /><br />Sunil Chhetri scored the match winner in the 60th minute off a free kick after Gurjinder Kumar handed the ball just outside the box.<br /><br />Kim Song Yong, who worked his way on the right, sent a goal mouth cross where defender Nicolau and Augustin failed to intercept, and Vineeth tapped the ball home.<br />The home team scored when Jackichand Singh won a penalty after being felled by Eugenson Lyndoh from behind. Duffy, who took the penalty, beat keeper Raltte on the wrong side.<br /><br />Salgaocar coach Malcolm Thomson, in order to add thrust upfront, brought in Manandeep Singh in place of Alec Sawant, but the latter looked little rusty.<br /><br />Salgaocar conceded a foul just on top of the box after Gujinder Singh handled the ball and Chhetri, who stepped up to take the free kick, shot the ball to the far corner of the net, which turned out to be the winner.<br /><br />Bagan begin positively<br /><br />Defending champions Mohun Bagan easily defeated debutants Aizawl FC 3-1 to begin their campaign with a bang in the I-League football tournament opener at Vidyasagar Krirangan.<br /><br />Mohun Bagan’s new signing Cornell Glenn struck the opening goal of the I-League in the fifth minute before completing a brace in the 21st, while Balwant Singh completed the rout eight minutes later as the title holders sealed the issue in the first-half itself.<br /><br />The newly-promoted Mizoram outfi put up a full strength squad with Alfred Jayran as sole forward, but he failed to convert any of the chances and it was Mohun Bagan defender Pritam Kotal who reduced the margin with an own goal in the 17th minute.<br /><br />Trinidad and Tobago recruit Glenn, who switched allegiance from Shillong Lajong, combined well up front with Balwant as Mohun Bagan were off to a flier with the former slotting home the opening goal of the 2015-16 season.<br /><br />Glenn received an attacking ball from the left and the former Lajong forward converted it without any fuss to open his account.<br /><br />Aizawl had some luck going in their favour when Mohun Bagan defender Kotal managed to find his own net while trying to clear the ball from Jayran for the equaliser inside 17 minutes.<br /><br />But four minutes later, Glenn restored parity by combining well with Balwant.<br />Balwant ran in from the left and set it up for Glenn who turned 180 degrees before shooting past AFC goalkeeper Soram Poirei.<br /><br />Balwant soon opened his account as he beat the Aizawl defenders with his pace before firing in his right footer into the bottom left corner.<br /><br />There was nothing much in the second half with both the sides failing to add any further goals and the score remained 3-1 in favour of Bagan.<br /><br /></div>
<div> Last edition’s runner-up Bengaluru FC got off to a positive start as they scored a goal in each half to down Salgaocar 2-1 in their inaugural match of the Hero I-League football here on Saturday.<br /><br />Bengaluru FC, who held upper hand throughout the match, created numerous chances and took the lead in the 5th minute through C K Vineeth.<br /><br />Darryl Duffy restored parity in the 41st minute.<br />They could have won by a bigger margin, had it not been for rival keeper Karanjit Singh, who brought off good saves.<br /><br />Sunil Chhetri scored the match winner in the 60th minute off a free kick after Gurjinder Kumar handed the ball just outside the box.<br /><br />Kim Song Yong, who worked his way on the right, sent a goal mouth cross where defender Nicolau and Augustin failed to intercept, and Vineeth tapped the ball home.<br />The home team scored when Jackichand Singh won a penalty after being felled by Eugenson Lyndoh from behind. Duffy, who took the penalty, beat keeper Raltte on the wrong side.<br /><br />Salgaocar coach Malcolm Thomson, in order to add thrust upfront, brought in Manandeep Singh in place of Alec Sawant, but the latter looked little rusty.<br /><br />Salgaocar conceded a foul just on top of the box after Gujinder Singh handled the ball and Chhetri, who stepped up to take the free kick, shot the ball to the far corner of the net, which turned out to be the winner.<br /><br />Bagan begin positively<br /><br />Defending champions Mohun Bagan easily defeated debutants Aizawl FC 3-1 to begin their campaign with a bang in the I-League football tournament opener at Vidyasagar Krirangan.<br /><br />Mohun Bagan’s new signing Cornell Glenn struck the opening goal of the I-League in the fifth minute before completing a brace in the 21st, while Balwant Singh completed the rout eight minutes later as the title holders sealed the issue in the first-half itself.<br /><br />The newly-promoted Mizoram outfi put up a full strength squad with Alfred Jayran as sole forward, but he failed to convert any of the chances and it was Mohun Bagan defender Pritam Kotal who reduced the margin with an own goal in the 17th minute.<br /><br />Trinidad and Tobago recruit Glenn, who switched allegiance from Shillong Lajong, combined well up front with Balwant as Mohun Bagan were off to a flier with the former slotting home the opening goal of the 2015-16 season.<br /><br />Glenn received an attacking ball from the left and the former Lajong forward converted it without any fuss to open his account.<br /><br />Aizawl had some luck going in their favour when Mohun Bagan defender Kotal managed to find his own net while trying to clear the ball from Jayran for the equaliser inside 17 minutes.<br /><br />But four minutes later, Glenn restored parity by combining well with Balwant.<br />Balwant ran in from the left and set it up for Glenn who turned 180 degrees before shooting past AFC goalkeeper Soram Poirei.<br /><br />Balwant soon opened his account as he beat the Aizawl defenders with his pace before firing in his right footer into the bottom left corner.<br /><br />There was nothing much in the second half with both the sides failing to add any further goals and the score remained 3-1 in favour of Bagan.<br /><br /></div>