Rajan Mani’s Bengaluru FC U13s put on a clinical show to enter the final rounds of the Hero Sub-Junior League unbeaten, following a 5-0 rout of Ananthapur Sports Academy at the Bengaluru Football Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Thursday. Ishaan Raghunanda scored a hat-trick, while goals from Chandan Biju and Gautam Rajesh ensured the Young Blues ended the Zonal Rounds with a perfect record.

In a game that the hosts dominated from start to finish, it was Ishaan that broke the deadlock in the 8th minute, taking a pass in his stride before slotting home from inside the box. Chandan doubled the lead 15 minutes later, holding off his marker to slot past Fayaz Khureshi in the Ananthapur goal to double the advantage going into the break.

Mani’s side continued to push forward in the second period, and took just eight minutes to add to their advantage. Substitute Aditya Kalasur played a long diagonal that sliced the Ananthapur defence, and Ishaan made no mistake slotting home off the upright. In the 64th minute, skipper Gautam Rajesh got his name on the scoresheet, rising high to nod home Kalasur’s corner into the far post to make it 5-0.

Ishaan completed his treble with just three minutes left to play in regulation time after he was found unmarked outside the area by Gautam. In space and with time at hand, his low drive was past the outstretched arms of Fayaz.

Bengaluru FC U13s will step up their preparations for the final round of the Hero Sub Junior League, set to be held in Goa between 14th and 22nd May 2019.