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Bengaluru FC ‘B’ go down 1-0 to Mohammedan Sporting

Bengaluru FC ‘B’ skipper Myron Mendes in action in the Second Division League. (Photo courtesy: Bengaluru FC)

Bengaluru FC ‘B’ ended their campaign with a second successive defeat in the Second Division League after going down 1-0 to Mohammedan Sporting Club in their final Group C game. A second half strike from Dipendu Dowary (70’) proved to be the decider in a rain affected match at the Barasat Stadium, in Kolkata, on Sunday. The loss meant that the Blue Colts finished their campaign with 17 points in second place, six behind leaders TRAU FC (23 points) who beat Langsning FC 3-1 earlier in the day to seal top spot.

Going into the final game of the season, Coach Naushad Moosa made three changes, handing starts to Asheer Akhtar who returned from suspension along with Shahabaaz Khan and Lamgoulen Hangshing.

While the start of the game was delayed by an hour owing to incessant rains and a water-logged pitch, the Blue Colts came out all guns blazing when it finally did. Playmaker Altamash Sayed rattled the near post on a freekick just outside the box on the right in the 8th minute in the first chance of the game, while Nishu Kumar and Asheer both went agonisingly close to opening the scoring around the half hour mark.

Coach Moosa brought on attacker Bidyananda in place of Nishu in the second half as the Blue Colts made a tactical change looking to break the deadlock. However, it was Dipendu Dowary who scored at the other end for Mohammedan after midfielder Tirthankar Sarkar did well to capitalise on a defensive error and send the striker through on goal.

Trailing by a goal, BFC ‘B’ made another change as winger Leon Augustine came on in place of Lamgoulen as the Blue Colts pushed men forward almost camping around the rival box. Into the final ten minutes of the game, Mohammedan were reduced to ten men after defender Anyichie Echezona was sent off for a straight red after a bad foul on Bidyananda.

However, the Blue Colts couldn’t make their one-man advantage count in the final exchanges after some resolute defending from Mohammedan Sporting ended the game 1-0 in favour of the hosts.

(Bengaluru FC)