Bengaluru FC ‘B’ fought back from a goal down to hold Meghalayan side Langsning FC 1-1 in their Second Division League opener at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Shillong, on Monday.

While midfielder Kitboklang Pale (21’) broke the deadlock for the hosts, super-sub Lamgoulen Hangshing (80’) scored the equalizer in the final ten minutes to earn BFC ‘B’ their first point in the competition. The result meant the Blues moved to third place in the Group-C standings, behind leaders Mohammedan Sporting (6) and Langsning (4).

Up against an unknown opponent, the Blues started off cautiously trying to gauge the situation. However, despite staying firm at the back, the hosts managed to split the defense open and take the lead in the 21st minute. Kitboklang capitalized on a through ball and chipped it over an onrushing Aditya Patra in the Bengaluru goal to break the deadlock.

Bengaluru’s best chance of the half fell for medio Bidyananda Singh in the 41st minute, but the youngster’s freekick from just outside the box went inches over the horizonal. At the other end, the Blues survived a close shave when Langsning’s Ivorian defender Lancine Toure’s header came off the crossbar.

The second half was a quite affair with both sides engaging in a midfield battle for majority of the time before it exploded to life in the final quarter. With the final fifteen minutes to play, Moosa introduced Lalengzama Vangchhia and Lamgoulen Hangshing in place of Ragav Gupta and Ajay Chhetri looking to add more impetus in the attack. The move paid off as the duo combined five minutes later to pull BFC ‘B’ level. Lalengzama’s low cross from the right found Lamgoulen on the edge of the box, and the youngster dribbled past a couple of defenders to beat Surjay Kumar Pariyar in the Langsning goal and earn Bengaluru a vital point.

The Blues next play Chennaiyin FC Reserves away on April 6th.

(Bengaluru FC)