Irfan Yadwad Brace Gives United 2-0 Win Over Bengaluru FC Reserves At The BFS

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC suffered a 0-2 defeat against FC Bengaluru United in their penultimate game of the 2nd Division League, at the Bangalore Football Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Tuesday. A second half brace from Irfan Yadwad (58’, 84’ (P)) saw Santiago Varela’s side overcome the Blue Colts and stay atop Group C. 

Ahead of the game, Bengaluru Head Coach Kaizad Ambapardiwala made six changes to the starting eleven from the previous game against RKM FC, as Wungngayam Muirang returned to the starting eleven and Oinam Ronex Meitei made his first appearance in the 2nd Division League for Bengaluru. 

The game kicked off fast-paced, with Bengaluru coming close to opening scoring in the 5th minute, when a low cross by Thoi Singh was met by Kamalesh Palanisamy on the left. The winger’s first-time effort, however, was saved by United ’keeper Srijith. 

Bengaluru goalkeeper Dipesh Chauhan was called into action early on, making two saves in as many minutes to deny United striker Yadwad. The Blue Colts also had their claims for a penalty turned down by referee K Ramdasan, after Ashish Jha was brought down in the box by Manjit Sharma. 

Just past the half-hour mark, a cross from Bedashwor Singh was headed goalwards by Nikhil Mali, before Harsh Patre cleared the danger on the goalline, denying Santiago Varela’s side the lead. That would be the closest that the away team would come to scoring in a first half that promised a lot more than the goalless scoreline. 

Into the second period, Yadwad put the visitors ahead in the 58th minute, skipping away from his marker and nodding home with a diving header, off a cross supplied from the right by Selwyn Miranda. 

In a bid to turn the tide, Ambapardiwala brought on Satendra Singh and Fredy Chawngthansanga in place of Lalhmingchhuanga and Thoi. It was United, however, that doubled their lead, once again through Yadwad from the spot in the 84th minute. Muirang’s inadvertent handball in the box allowed the striker to step up and send Dipesh the wrong way, and place his shot into the bottom right corner to help United on their way to three points.

Bengaluru will play Golden Threads FC in their final League game, at the Panampilly Nagar Ground, in Kochi, on Monday.