Monirul Bags Fourth Treble Of The Campaign As Junior Blues Down Raman SA 4-1

Bellary: Ten-men Bengaluru FC edged out Raman Sports Academy 4-1 in a dominant show to secure their passage to the final round of the Hero Junior League. Striker Monirul Molla (26’, 42′, 67′) scored his fourth hat-trick of the campaign after skipper Macarton Louis Nickson (6’) had opened scoring early on in the first half for the Junior Blues in their penultimate game of the zonal phase at the Vidyanagar Township in Bellary, on Saturday.

The hosts played majority of the game with ten men on the field after Macarton received marching orders for a second bookable offence in the 43rd minute. Mir Mohamed Raza (83’) scored a consolation goal for Raman Sports Academy in the final ten minutes of the game.

With their fifth successive win, the Junior Blues took their tally to 15 points and secured the top spot with an unassailable six-point lead atop the Group B standings in the Karnataka zone.

Needing a point to seal their place in the final round, Bengaluru FC began aggressively and netted in the sixth minute. Molla went on a brilliant solo run down the left before finding Macarton for an easy finish. Although the striker found the net, he picked up a needless booking for excessive celebration.

The hosts continued their domination in the remainder of the half, and playing on quick counters scored two more goals. Vinith Venkatesh and Rajanbir Singh got the assists, after both did well with their respective releases down the middle to send Molla clear on the goal and the striker made no mistake from close range.

Bengaluru FC were then reduced to ten men after Macarton received his second yellow card for a foul on an opponent and was subsequently sent off in the 43rd minute.

Sachin Badadhe’s boys extended their lead in the second half when Molla bagged his fourth hat-trick of the campaign by scoring in the 67th minute before striker Mir Mohamed Raza pulled one back for the visitors late on in the game.

Bengaluru FC now play Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools at the HAL Ground in their final zonal phase game on January 30.