Bengaluru FC Cement Top Spot With 4-0 Win In BDFA Super Division

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC consolidated their lead atop the BDFA Super Division League standings with a convincing 4-0 win over ten-man Bangalore Independents at the Bangalore Football Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Goals from Leon Augustine (7’), Parag Shrivas (13’), Gursimrat Singh Gill (60’) and Sairuat Kima (85’) handed Naushad Moosa’s boys their sixth win on the trot and seventh of the campaign.

With eight games on the charts, Bengaluru sit comfortable on top of the standings with 21 points of a possible 24 with five more games to go. The Blue Colts broke the deadlock early on when left-back Biswa made a good run down the left before sending in a low ball into the box. Leon times his run well to come in from the right and fire home a first-time left-footer past the rival custodian.

Moosa’s boys then doubled their advantage before the quarter hour mark, when a team move was finished off by Parag. Gursimrat Singh Gill sent Leon free on the right who beat the offside trap before sending in a low ball into the box to find Lalnuntluanga. The striker’s deft chip came off the crossbar but Parag was alert to head the ball home from close.

Bangalore Independents created little and were reduced to ten men in first half injury time when defender Zinzuaman was sent off for a second bookable offence, with a stray elbow catching Biswa Darjee.

Bengaluru came out all guns blazing in the second half, and increased their advantage at the hour mark when defender Gursimrat tapped home from close range after Altamash Sayed’s freekick from just outside the box was parried onto the woodwork by Independents ’keeper Nishanth. The rival custodian had handled the ball outside the area to gift Bengaluru the set-piece.

Leon had a brilliant chance to get his second of the afternoon in the 79th minute, after good interplay between Parag and Lalengzama Vangchhia allowed Lalnuntluanga to run into the clear down the left inside and slide into the path of the Blue Colts’ number 31. Leon, in clear space and from five yards out, but the winger’s attempt inexplicably went over the crossbar.

The Blue Colts got their fourth goal when defender Sairuat Kima scored his first in a Bengaluru shirt, converting from the spot in the 85th minute to seal the points after Leon made amends for his earlier miss, winning a penalty.

Bengaluru FC face ADE in their next clash, at the Bangalore Football Stadium, on 14th December.