Bengaluru FC Ready For Lajong Challenge

AIFF Media 

As the fight for the top spot in the Airtel I-League heats up, Bengaluru FC will take on Shillong Lajong FC in a crucial 12th round match at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Sunday. While Bengaluru FC are undefeated so far at home, the visitors are coming into the match with a six-match unbeaten run.

With three top teams- Salgaocar, Bangalore FC and Pune FC, tied on 18 points each, a win on Sunday will ensure that the Bangalore based side stays in hunt for the top spot. On the other hand, Shillong Lajong, who have 14 points and are lying at the sixth place, will be looking forward to moving up the table with a favourable away result.

Bengaluru FC, who registered the first away win against Salgaocar, earlier this week are high on confidence. “Finally it was a welcome win, after we failed to win our first three away matches despite playing well in them. It is certainly good for the team,” said coach Ashley Westwood, on the eve of the match. “But again as I have said earlier, we play each game to win,” he added.

The British coach admitted the visitors are a good team and Sunday’s match will be a tough one. “When any team is unbeaten for six games, you know that they are playing good football,” pointed out Westwood. “I have watched their match video, they have lot of pace and their style of play is also good,” he added.

Bengaluru FC will be keeping a close watch on Lajong’s Trinidadian striker and World Cupper Cornell Glen. Glen has been in terrific form and has scored six goals so far in the league. “Our aim will be to stop Glen from scoring a goal. We have a plan in place to keep him away from the goal as much as possible,” said Bengaluru FC defender Rino Anto.

Shillong Lajong’s coach Thangboi Singto is also happy with the way the team has performed in the league so far and is confident that the team will be able to live upto its reputation on Sunday.

“I am happy with the team, though we could have done better. But I am not complaining as we are undefeated in the last six matches. We will go all out against Bengaluru FC to pick up full points,” he said.

Singto further maintained that despite Bengaluru FC having a good record at home, they cannot be called favourites as most of the teams are at par. “This season I-league is a tight race. On a given day any team can beat anyone, whether it is at home or away. Just see so far in the league, 30 points were up for grabs, whereas the leaders just have 18 points,” said Singto.

The Lajong coach also believes that playing in Bangalore is like playing at home. “With so many students from the North East studying in Bangalore, Lajong has got huge support whenever they have played in Bangalore. Even on Sunday, I am expecting good support for our team.” 

Bengaluru FC move to second spot after registering first away win

AIFF media release

Bengaluru FC defeated Salgaocar Football Club 2-1 to move to the second spot of the Airtel I-League in a fiery eleventh round clash at the Duler Stadium, Goa, on Tuesday. 

Salgaocar were jostling with Bengaluru to secure their top spot but they were clearly rattled when John Menyongar drew first blood for the visitors in the 21st minute. 

Two minutes later, Gilbert Oliveira came up with a gem of a goal from almost 25 yards out to draw level, only for Beikhokhei Beingaichho to settle the matter in Bengaluru’s favour in the 57th minute. 

Salgaocar had a chance to draw level in the first minute of added time but Darryl Duffy missed a penalty.

The win saw Bengaluru garner 18 points from ten matches, the same as Salgaocar FC, but the latter still occupy the top position owing to better goal difference.

[PICS] Matchday Salgaonkar Vs Bengaluru FC

Pic courtesy: Naveen N

[VIDEO] Post-match Press Conference - Bengaluru FC Vs Sporting Clube de Goa

Video created by Tridib Bose 

Ashley Westwood - Bengaluru FC




Oscar Bruzon - Sporting Clube de Goa

[PICS] Matchday Bengaluru FC Vs Sporting Club de Goa

First of many attacks by Sporting Clube in the first half 

John Jonson was thoroughly checked by SCG central defender Gonzalo, it was left to Curtis to deliver few headers from set pieces  

BFC players trying to convince the ref for an offence  

Boima Karpeh played had a good game...

... but perhaps not the same for Sunil

Kalu is not fully fit, he was added later half 

Crafty Johnny Menyongar has his innovative way to take out the ball, when it was locked locked on the feet of an Sporting player 

Cajetan Fernandes' run from the right flank

Cajetan Fernandes' run from the right flank, coach Oscar looks on 

Perhaps the most exciting moment for BFC in the second half, managed to create as many as three goal scoring chances from a set-piece  

[LIVE] Airtel I-League 2013-14 - Bengaluru FC Vs Sporting Clube de Goa

Airtel I-League 2013-14
Round 9  Sunday, November 23, 2013  Bangalore Football Stadium Kick-off: 3 pm
Scorer:	0	-	0	Scorer:
Bengaluru FC: Pawan, Osano, Johnson, Rooney, Menyongar, Chhetri, Thoi Singh, Anto, Beingaichho, Hangal, Perreira  Sub: Manju, Vishal, Malemnganba, Robin Singh, Fanai, Mani, Colaco
Sporting Clube de Goa: Ravi Kumar, Gonsalves, Almeida, Neila, Garcia, Martins, Fernandes, Shirodkar, Rowlin, Karpeh, Lourenco Sub: Devrani, Ogba, D'Mello, Mauvin, Cajetan, Velito, Sourav
LIVE UPDATES
90+4 Match ends. SCG must be satisfied with this result. 90+3 another scare for SCG, almost scored 90'+2 Boima booked, applying time wasting tactic. 90' 4 mins of time added. SCG makes a substitution - Velito in Jovel out 62' first replacement for SCG, Kalu comes in for Victorino. 60' A good cross from Rino, floated for Rooney, cleared by SCG defense 55.30 Beikho to Siam to Thoi. nothing positive yet. 53' corner for BFC 50' SCG weaved a good move from the mid field 46.40 Boima takes the first crack in the second half, no harm done to BFC 46' match starts after lemon break. 45+2; End of first half - 0-0 45'+10' 2 mins added 45' Beikho fouled, free-kick for BFC. Gonsalves booked 43' move from Johnny from the right flank, dribbles two defenders, plays a wall with Thoi. 42' SCG's Offside trap is being executed in perfection! 40 Boima uses his body to beat Keegan, his shot easily collected by keeper. 39 Corner wasted by SCG 38.20 Jovel takes a long shot, from the top of the box, Pawan kumar had to stretch himself. Corner. 35.50' Boima Karpeh fouls Johnson, lucky to get away with 31.50 SGS's Pratesh Sirodkar booked 29.55' Chhetri pulled down, ref continues the game. 26.30' Beikho misses the best chance so far. his shot went wide. 24' SCG has set off-side trap for BFC, six fo far! 20' Chhetri pulled down, ref awards a freekick, Johnny's kick poses to no threat to SCG 19' BFC created 2 quick chances. Chhetri mistimes the first one, Rooney spoils another from an 1-1 position 17' ref calls an offside, much to BFC annoyance. 14.37 SCG relying on speedy counter attack. 12' Menyongar takesd a freekick from a foul, Osano's head fails to find the target. 11.11' quite an exciting encounter so far.  Hello folks, GCSStars.com will go live from 3.45 pm, well before the kick-off!

Bengaluru FC look to get back to winning ways

Airtel I-League comes back to the Garden City, when our own, 3rd placed Bengaluru FC lock horns with 4th placed Sporting Clube de Goa. 

Exactly a month ago, Bengaluru FC played their last home game when they thrashed Dempo 3-1. Post that, their three away matches yielded them only a point and they are looking nothing but getting back to winning ways. 

Both the teams are tied with 14 points (after today’s Shillong Lajong Vs Rangdajied United game, the former too is on 14 but after playing one extra game). A win will ensure them a second/third spot in the points table. 

Stepping out of a comfort zone, Coach Ashley reckons was good, “The away games were pretty close, in last two matches we allowed goal in last minute and also missed a penalty.” 

Sunil Chhetri, who recently became India’s highest goal scorer in international matches, is also looking forward to the Sporting match as he too wants his team to get back to winning ways. 

“They are a good side, we are going to go all out against them. Our target is to bag full points from this match and get back to our winning habit,” said Chhetri. Chhetri will be hoping to maintain his good form, after having scored for India against Philippines and Nepal. 

Sporting Clube de Goa is hoping to end Bengaluru FC’s unbeaten run at home. Having beaten Pune FC and snatching points against East Bengal in their last two matches, the Goan side is high on morale. 

 “We know Bengaluru FC has been playing well at home, but we have come here to win,” said Coach Oscar Bruzon. “Our opponent is a good team, we’re good too, and we know our strength and weaknesses”, he added. 

The Panaji-based team has a strong local presence. The current squad in Bangalore has as many as ten Goan players. They are serious in Youth Development too, five players from this squad touring to Bangalore are product of their Youth Development System. 

Sporting is likely to miss four players due to injury. Mackroy Peixote, Joseph Pereira, Stephen Barretto, and Dawson Fernandes are on the injured list, but the Spanish coach is not worried too much about it. “I have seen Bengaluru FC’s matches on TV and I have chalked out a plan to counter them.” said Bruzon. 

[PICS] Bengaluru FC Vs Sporting Club de Goa Press Conference & Practice - I-League, 2013-14

Bangalore Football Season 2013-14: Observations

• 8/12/2013 In the final of the Puttaiah Memorial today between MEG and HAL, with a goal down, HAL got a chance to come back to the game during injury time. MEG’s Suman handled the ball inside the penalty box from Xavier Vijaykymar’s shot. Referee promptly awarded a penalty to the Aircraftsmen. But HAL old-warhorse, J Murali’s shot hit the post and ricocheted to the field, which was then cleared by an MEG defender. Lucky MEG! 
• 2/12/2013 U-19 international Anto Xavier is in magnificent form, scored a hat trick against LRDE today. Pity that he could not take his team Students Union to final. SAI needed only a point to qualify for the finals, they defeated Independents 2-0 today. 
• 29/11/2013 DYES (from Group A) entered the finals of ‘A Division’ Prasanna Kumar Memorial Trophy. From Group B, SAI only need a point to reach the finals, they play their final group game on December 2. 
• 27/11/2013 MEG and HAL reach final of Puttaiah Memorial. The last group match for HAL is against BEML, who have pulled out of the tournament. 
• 26/11/2013 It's raining goals in the Puttaiah Memorial tourney, Hamza is firing all cylinders! 4 goals against RWF today, wow, that's quite a number!  
• 21/11/2013 The match between HAL and ADE marked the comeback of HAL legend India international namma-Xavier Vijay Kumar, he combined well with RC Prakash. 
  Any idea how many spectators were their to welcome their hero? More than 3000, well that's impressive! 
  And yes, guys, who kept the goal for ADE? Former ITI custodian Mark Maskerhnas! 
• 21/11/2013 Sehlenmang Dimngel, mark this name guys, his strike rate is 100% - 3 goals from as many matches!  
   
• 20/11/2013 What is wrong with a public sector team like KGF Academy – BEML? With limited resources, they have put up a decent show in I-League Second Division last season’s (http://www.gcsstars.com/2013/02/i-league-2-division-fixture-south.html), and now they've withdrawn from Puttaiah Memorial Trophy. That’s definitely a bad sign for #BangaloreFootball. 

• 20/11/2013 One the positive side, I see U-19 international Anto Xavier coming back to the game after a long injury-layoff. He’s playing for A Div team Students Union in the ongoing Prasanna Kumar Memorial Trophy and scored 2 goals from 3 matches. Let us all wish him luck and hope he continues his good form. 

'Super Division' Puttaiah Memorial Trophy - Fixture & Results

Group A 

• Nov 18, 2013, 3.00 pm: Jawahar Union 0 Vs South United 2 (Subash-19', Solai Malai-71')
• Nov 19, 2013, 3.00 pm: MEG 3 (Ngurneilal Hamar-16', 28', 78') Vs CIL 1 (Md. Ahamed -50')
• Nov 24, 2013, 3.00 pm: CIL 2 (Pradeep-36, Carthon-72') Vs South United 1 (Solai Malai-65')
• Nov 25, 2013, 3.00 pm: MEG 2 (Ajiraj-43', Ngurneilal Hamar-77') Vs Jawahar Union 0
• Nov 27, 2013, 3.00 pm: MEG 0 Vs South United 0 
• Nov 29, 2013, 3.00 pm: CIL 2 (Calthon-43', Pradeepkumar-48') Vs Jawahar Union 1 (Nithesh Balla-56')

Group B  

• Nov 20, 2013, 3.00 pm: BEML Vs RWF (W/O)
  * BEML have withdrawn their team, RWF got walkover (3 points with 2-0 goal rule) 
• Nov 21, 2013, 3.00 pm: HAL 2 (Hamza-49', RC Prakash-81')  Vs ADE 1 (Daniel Chru-81')
• Nov 26, 2013, 3.00 pm: HAL 7 (Emmanuel-29', 36', 38', 64' ADE Kumar-50', RC Prakash-66', Gopi-71) Vs RWF 3 (Satish-21', 69', Prakash-67')
• Nov 27, 2013, 3.00 pm: BEMl Vs ADE
• Nov 27, 2013, 3.00 pm: RWF 2 (Rajesh-85', Satish-90') Vs ADE 1 (Kaviarasan-13')
• Dec 3, 2013, 3.00 pm: HAL Vs BEML     

Final 

• Dec 8, 2013, 3.00 pm: MEG 1 (Girish VK- 89') (Winner Group A) Vs HAL 0 (Winner Group B)  

'A Division' Prasanna Kumar Memorial Trophy - Fixture & Results

Group A 

• Nov 14, 2013, 1.30 pm: Postal 1 (Schlen Mang-2') Vs Students Union 3 (Xavier Anto-35', 67', Satish M R-60')
• Nov 14, 2013, 3 pm: DYES 2 (Sunder-25', Rosing-35') Vs Tilak Memorial 
• Nov 16, 2013, 1.30 pm: LRDE 1 (Surender Babu-30') Vs DYES 2 (Satnthosh-13', Ravikiran-21') 
• Nov 16, 2013, 3 pm: Students Union 0 Vs Tilak Memorial 0 
• Nov 18, 2013, 1.30 pm: Postal 2 (Schlen Mang-13', Ricky Joy-33') Vs LRDE 1 (Edwin George-57')
• Nov 20, 2013, 1.30 pm: DYES 1 (M Hussain-52') Vs Students Union 1 (Anto Xavier-51')
• Nov 21, 2013, 1.30 pm: Postal 2 (Einstein-35', Schlenmang-70') Vs Tilak Memorial 0 
• Nov 26, 2013, 1.30 pm: LRDE 2 (Saravana Lokesh-44', Edwin George-68') Vs Tilak Memorial 1 (Rakesh-15')
• Nov 27, 2013, 1.30 pm: Postal 1 (Sham-75') Vs DYES 3 (Santhosh-40'+2', 44', Nithin Singh-60')
• Dec 2, 2013, 1.30 pm: LRDE 2 (Murthy-60', Saravana Lokesh-79') Vs Students Union 4 (Anto Xavier-3',16', 62', Satish MR-14')

Group B 

• Nov 15, 2013, 1.30 pm: Kickers 0 Vs SAI 4 (Sudarshan-22', 65', Saroj Rai-57', Robinson Singh-13')
• Nov 15, 2013, 3 pm: BUFC 1 (Clivert-64') Vs Independents 0 
• Nov 17, 2013, 1.30 pm: AGORC 2 (Santhosh-9', Raghu-11') Vs Independents 1 (Zabiulla-14') 
• Nov 17, 2013, 3 pm: BUFC 1 (Clivert- 78') Vs Kickers 0 
• Nov 19, 2013, 1.30 pm: SAI 3 (Sudarshan-19', 38', Saroj Rai-40') Vs AGORC 1 (Raghu-26')
• Nov 24, 2013, 1.30 pm: Kickers 1 (Christropher-73') Vs Independents 4 (Aditya KV-2', 8', 65', Zabi-15')
• Nov 25, 2013, 1.30 pm: BUFC 1 (Clivert-11') Vs AGORC 1 (Vinod VJ-50')
• Nov 28, 2013, 1.30 pm: SAI 2 (Saroj Roy-18', 24') Vs BUFC 2 (Naresh-31', Clivert-64)
• Nov 29, 2013, 1.30 pm: AGORC 2 (Goverdhan-43', Raghu-55') Vs Kickers 1 (Ashwin-2')
• Dec 3, 2013, 1.30 pm: SAI 2 (Goutham-72', Saroj Rai-79') Vs Independents 0  

Final  

• Dec 8, 2013, 1.30 pm: DYES 1 (Winner of Group A) (Rosing-76')  Vs SAI 2 (Winner of Group B) (Saroj Rai-31', Samananda G-59') 

[PICS] Dada Nabeel with UEFA Champions League trophy

The official UEFA Champions League (UCL) trophy is in India, on a single city visit in Kolkata for 3 days from November 13 thru 15. 

Century-old Mohun Bagan Club had the unique privilege to unveil the trophy today, 4 pm at their ground in Kolkata Maidan. 

Football in Bangalore 's Dada Nabeel now a part of the Green & Maroon brigade shared a few pictures of the gala event. 


Here's Namma-Dada Nabeel with UCL trophy...

U-14 National: Karnataka reach quarters

The state lads stormed into the quarters of the U-14 football festival played at Kalyani, West Bengal. The boys were grouped in Cluster VII along with Punjab, Tripura, and Chhattisgarh. 

They defeated Chhattisgarh 3-2, trounced Tripura 11-0, and played a goalless draw against Punjab. Today’s draw ensured them a smooth passage to the quarter final. 

In the quarterfinal, Karnataka is placed in Group A, which will be played in league format along with Haryana, West Bengal, and Kerala. They play their first quarterfinal match against host Kerala tomorrow. 

Fixture 

Preliminary Group 

• November 10, 2013: Karnataka 3 (Rahul Bassappa-13', Meldon D’Souza-22', 65') Vs Chhatishgrah 2 (Ashish-37', Gulshan-44')
• November 11, 2013: Karnataka 11 (Henry A-1', Monish-5', Vijaya T-6', Meldon D’Souza-14', 24', 35', 45', 50', 70', Rahul Basappa-18', Hemananda V-69') Vs Tripura 0
• November 12, 2013: Karnataka 0 Vs Punjab 0 

Quarter Final

• November 13, 2013: Karnataka 0 Vs Kerala 1 
• November 14, 2013: Karnataka 1 Vs Haryana 0
• November 15, 2013: Karnataka 0 Vs Bengal 2

Team

Henry A, Deepak S, Ajith K, M Ved Devaiah, Monish G, Gaurav, Vijaya T, Rahul Basappa, Meldon D’Souza, Hemananda V, Aks Nurula, Jaishankaer C, Dhanush D, Rahul Bhandarai, Praveen R, Sreenath Y, Manav Kapoor, Lohit N, Pravav, Sasurya 

Coach - Nikson, GK - Coach- Subash Kumar, Manager - R Ramakrishna Rao

Puttaiah and Prasanna Memorial Cup starts from Thursday

Marking the beginning of the local football season, Bangalore District Football Association (BDFA) is ready with Puttaiah and Prasanna Kumar Memorial Cup, tournament for the Super and A Division teams respectively. 

The tournaments will be played at the Bangalore Football Stadium from Thursday, November 14 thru December 4. 

The tournaments were originally scheduled for October 1 (http://www.gcsstars.com/2013/09/bangalore-football-season-to-start-with.html) which was postponed partly owing to Bengaluru FC’s I-league matches at the same venue.  

In this year’s edition, teams are grouped into two groups - A and B. Group matches will be played on league basis. There will be no semifinal and the winner from each group will make it to the final.  

Puttaiah Kumar Memorial Cup (Super Division) will be played for 90 minutes (45+15+45) and 
Prasanna Kumar Memorial Cup (A Division) will be played for 80 minutes (40+15+40).  

No extra-time rule in the finals, the match will directly go to tie-breaker if the game ends in a draw in the regulation time.  

Participating teams 

Puttaiah Memorial Cup

Group A	Group B
MEG  CIL South United  Jawahar Union	HAL BEML ADE RWF

Prasanna Kumar Memorial Cup 

Group A	Group B
Postal  Students Union DYES  Tilak Memorial  LRDE	AGORC Kickers BUFC SAI Independents

[PIC] HAL team for 2013-14 season

Presenting HAL football team for 2013-14 season...

[LIVE - VIDEO] Livestream: Bengaluru FC Vs Pune FC - Kick-off 6.30 PM

PFCTVonline is bringing you LIVE action between host Pune FC and Bengaluru FC... 

[VIDEO] Diwali wishes from Bengaluru FC

A happy and safe Diwali - Namma Bengaluru FC ishtyle!

Bengaluru FC look to get back on the road

Press release

Bengaluru FC will look to bounce back from last week’s defeat against East Bengal when they take on Mumbai FC in what is the first of an important two away games that club plays at the Balewadi Sports Complex within a week. 

Bengaluru FC are on the third spot (13) with league leaders Salgaocar (16 - with a match more played) and Pune FC (13 - with better goal difference and a match less played). 

Hosts Mumbai FC finds itself in a precarious situation going into the Round 8 match against Bengaluru FC, at the Balewadi Sports Complex Stadium here on Saturday. They have lost three matches on the trot at home and a fall from No 5 to No 10 in the I-League standings!

“We are determined to get back on track. Two away games in four days will be a good test for us and it’s important that the team stays focused and does everything to ensure positive performances, “said Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood on the eve of the game.

Mumbai FC are going through a run they would like to end for certain, having  picked up just one point from their last four games and the Khalid Jamil-coached team would look to buck the trend at home. However, they will take on Bengaluru FC without their influential skipper Haroon Amiri. The Afghanistan player was sent off in Mumbai FC’s 3-2 defeat to Shillong Lajong last week and his absence at the heart of defense is something Bengaluru would do well to capitalize on.

Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri said the team is focused and is keen to do well on Saturday. “An away game is always a challenge but we have been training well and hope we can swing the result our way against Mumbai FC,” said Chhetri.  

The Blues have enjoyed a fantastic start to the season and the loss to East Bengal was the only game where Westwood’s boys haven’t scored. They next play Pune FC on November 6.

Saturday's game kicks off at 3 pm.