Bengaluru FC Seal Top Spot In Zonal Phase With 100% Record

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC ended their zonal phase with a sixth straight win in the Hero Junior League after a thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 win over Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools at the HAL Ground, on Thursday.

Rajkumar Devarinti (17’) put the hosts ahead in the first half before Vinith Venkatesh (42′) equalised for Bengaluru FC before the break. Rajanbir Singh (79′) then struck from a set-piece late in the second half to seal all three points.

The win maintained Bengaluru FC’s 100% record in Group B of the Karnataka zone as they took their tally to 18 points, nine ahead of second-placed BBFS who finished with 9 points. The Junior Blues have already sealed progression to the final phase of the competition.

In the final game of the zonal phase, it was the hosts BBFS who took the lead when Devarinti struck in the 17th minute against the run of play. Despite going down, the Junior Blues continued to push ahead and finally got the equaliser in the 42nd minute. A well-taken freekick from the right by Sarath Rajkumar was headed home by Vinith to level the score going into the breather.

Bengaluru FC kept the pressure on the second half and their persistence paid off when Sarath from the left sent in a low ball on a freekick from the left, to find Rajanbir Singh who finished with his first-time effort to seal a fantastic come-from-behind win.