Defensive lapses cost Bengaluru FC B who went down fighting 3-2 to Chennaiyin FC B in a thrilling Hero 2nd Division League opener at the SSN Ground in Chennai, on Monday.

Biswa Darjee (32’ pen) had put the Blue Colts ahead before Balkar Singh (35’) leveled the scores in the first half. Midfielder Zonunmawia Lalengliana (62’) handed Chennaiyin the lead in the second half before Advait Shinde (72’) made it 2-2 ten minutes later. However, substitute Senthamizhi S (74’) scored the decisive goal of the game for the home side handing BFC B their first loss of the campaign.

Bengaluru began on the offensive from the get-go and dominated majority of the proceedings. After some half chances early on, the Colts broke the deadlock around the half hour mark. Playmaker Emanuel L found winger Naorem Roshan Singh free on the left with a good through ball. The attacker controlled and dribbled past his marker getting into the box before Chennaiyin defender Pranav Chauhan brought him down. Biswa converted the resultant penalty kick to hand BFC B a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute.

The lead lasted just three minutes as the hosts managed to equalize from a counter attack at the other end. Skipper Bibin Boban found Balkar Singh with a neat through ball on the right and the striker chipped it over Sujith MS in the BFC goal to pull level as the first half ended 1-1.

The Blue Colts began the second half positively and almost took the lead in the 51st minute. A well-worked freekick routine saw medio Bekey Oram play a short pass to Shighil NS on the right, who then lifted it to substitute Akashdeep Singh on the run, down the same flank. The striker controlled the ball well and crossed it to defender Mohammed Rafi at the far post but his header went inches over the bar.

Meanwhile, it was the hosts who once again scored against the run of play capitalizing on a quick counter attack. Balkar who ran free down the left, cut past Rafi and took a crack on goal. His shot was saved by ’keeper Sujith, but he failed to control it allowing Zonunmawia to score from close range in the 62nd minute.

Bengaluru finally levelled scores in the 72nd minute when Advait Shinde headed home Jagdeep Singh’s cross in from the right, but once again their defensive lapses cost them as substitute Senthamizhi restored Chennaiyin’s advantage at the other end on a counter attack two minutes later.

Moosa’s boys pushed up hard in the final ten minutes but the hosts managed to hold on to their narrow advantage sealing a 3-2 win.

(Bengaluru FC)