A brace from C.K. Vineeth in the second period of extra time saw Bengaluru FC beat Mohun Bagan 2-0 to be crowned the Federation Cup champions at the Barabati Stadium here on Sunday.

Zverev defeats Djokovic for first Masters 1000 title; King conquered, prince crowned

Mumbai beat Pune in a last-ball thriller to win IPL 10

After both sides played out a 0-0 draw in regulation time, it took two strikes from substitute Vineeth to settle the tie. His first, came after the striker took two touches in the box before firing it low and with the help of a deflection, past Debjit Majumder in the Mohun Bagan goal in the 107th minute.

The second, on the counter, saw the striker feint twice before a shot that had too much on it for Debjit to handle as it was parried into the net in the 118th minute.

The win was a salvation for Bengaluru, who finished an underwhelming fourth in the I-League. The loss meant that Bagan ended the season without a trophy. Having finished second to Aizawl in the I-League, Bagan were playing their record 20th final in the Fed Cup.

Bengaluru thought they had their lead in the 19th minute when Udanta Singh volleyed home Eugueneson Lyngdoh’s take in stunning fashion only for the assistant referee to disallow the goal after Len Doungel, who got a start, in an off-side position, seemed to have got a bit of leg on the ball on its way in.

There was a second big chance only two minutes later when Udanta tried to cheekily flick in Lenny’s low cross but Debjit Majumder got enough of a hand to push it out for a corner.

Sandesh Jhingan made a goalline clearance from a Yusa Katsumi shot in the 31st minute in what would be Mohun Bagan’s only real chance in the first period.

While Bengaluru had nothing to complain about Udanta’s disallowed goal in the first half, they were justified in feeling robbed when Juanan Gonzalez’s legitimate prod from close in the 49th minute was wrongly flagged off side.

John Johnson headed a free kick from Udanta across the face of the goal and the Blues’ Spanish defender was well on side as he put the ball at the back of the net only for Bengaluru celebrations to be cut short by a flag that should have stayed down.

Things soon got frenetic at both ends. Amrinder Singh pulled off a blinder of a save, getting his fingertips on a goal-bound rasping strike from Balwant Singh.

Bengaluru soon answered with a counter. Set up by Harmanjot Khabra, Udanta spotted Majumder charging off his line and lobbed to ‘keeper only to see the ball bounce wide.

But the young winger, who was having a fantastic night, ended up pulling a muscle in the bargain, forcing Roca to bring on Vineeth.

Bagan then had a flurry of corners in added time of the second half but the Bengaluru defence did enough to see the danger away and take the game to extra time.

IANS

The I-League is more demanding as a football competition than the Indian Super League (ISL), says Mohun Bagan’s new recruit defender Anas Edathodika.

“The I-League is tougher than the ISL,” Edathodika told reporters at the club ground after joining training ahead of their league opener against Churchill Brothers at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium.

“There are so many foreigners who play in the ISL and they are top class players. The I-League has more Indians and there is more competition. Last year I did not play in the I-League. This year I am keen to make a mark,” Edathodika, who has been loaned from ISL franchise Delhi Dynamos, added.

On his reason to play for Mohun Bagan, the former Mumbai FC and Pune FC player said, “It’s a big challenge as this is a big club. I am happy to get an opportunity here. I have to work really hard.”

Edathodika acknowledged that it won’t be easy to break into the first team.

“Players like Kingshuk (Debnath), Raju (Gaikwad) bhai are there. So it won’t be easy to break into the first XI. In my football career, in 2009 and 2010 people used to tell me, once you have to play in Kolkata. I have played for four years in Mumbai and four years in Pune.”

“Jo Paul Ancheri (former India captain and Mohun Bagan academy coach) told me it’s a big club and advised me to play here. Last year he was asking me whether I am coming or not,” revealed the sturdy stopper-back who impressed in the third edition of the ISL.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player of the Year Jeje Lalpekhlua, who also joined training on Wednesday, said he wants to replicate Bengaluru FC’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup success for his club this season.

“When Bengaluru FC played in the AFC Cup final, it was a good advertisement for Indian football. So, hopefully our target this season should be to do well in the AFC Cup as well,” Jeje, who has been prolific for Mohun Bagan last season, said.

Bengaluru became the first Indian club to reach the AFC Cup final last year, losing to Air Force Club of Iraq in the summit clash.

Read Also:

PBL: Chennai drub Bengaluru 5-0 with Kashyap and Sindhu’s Win

Mithali to lead Indian eves in ICC World Cup qualifiers