JOIN US A clinical Bengaluru FC reserve side edged past MEG and Centre 2-1 in their BDFA Super Division football tie at the Bangalore Football Stadium here on Friday. The result also ended MEG’s unbeaten run in the league.
With a penalty in the first half and a neatly constructed goal in the second, a dominant Bengaluru side secured three points, which helped them move to the fifth position on the league table with eight points.
Bengaluru included returning first-teamers Rino Anto, Gursimrat Singh Gill, Malsawmzuala, Shankar Sampingiraj and Beikhokhei Beingaichho amongst a skilled set of youngsters.
With quick passes being exchanged in the first fifteen minutes of the game, a surging ball into the path of Sourav TP saw MEG defender Regan bring him down in the box, prompting the referee to point to the spot.
Shankar stepped up and slotted home to give Bengaluru the lead.Bengaluru FC’s attack constantly troubled the MEG defence as shots from Leon Augustine amongst a few others missed the mark by a small margin.
The 40th minute saw MEG draw level as striker Linton Sahil tapped home from close range.
The two teams went into the break level.
The second half resumed with the same intensity as the first, Gursimrat hitting the cross bar with a towering header from a free-kick just outside the box. Constant threats from Augustine and Jacob K from either wings saw Bengaluru come close to earning the lead.
The persistence paid off in the 71st minute when a slick pass from Malsawmzuala saw Beingaichho’s looped shot beat the ’keeper after an initial effort was parried into the striker’s path.
In the ‘A’ Division, Bangalore Independents beat Income Tax 3-0.
The Independents were spurred by a brace from Karthick (3rd, 34th minutes), while Shiva Kumar was the other scorer, finding the back of the net in the 13th minute.