I-League: Bengaluru FC win; Dempo hold Pune FC

Bengaluru FC showed no sign of protective-approach, when they trounced Shillong Lajong FC 2-0 at the Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday and moved to the second spot in the table for the time being, with 10 points.

BFC looked sharp on the pitch, with the midfield performing smoothly, and setting balls up for Robin Singh and Sunil Chhetri.

Local boy Shankar got a memorable start in the Hero I-League, with his precision balls from the right flank helped Robin Singh to score his first home goal of the season.

Last five minutes of the first half proved taxing for the Steelmen. Central defender Curtis Osano was shown the red card after committing a serious challenge on Cornell Glenn.

Playing with 10 men, BFC gaffer Ashley Westwood sacrificed a midfielder for a central defender. However, that did not refrain from taking industrious attempts. Perhaps that resulted in the second goal when Thoi Singh scored one from Eugenson Lyngdoh’s perfect cross.

Goalless stalemate between Pune FC, Dempo

Hero I-League leaders Pune FC were forced into the goalless draw by Goan visitors Dempo Sports Club at the Balewadi Stadium.

The draw meant Pune FC could still hold on to the No 1 position with 11 points, while Dempo SC was at No 6 with 7 points.

Pune FC began the match in their bid to consolidate position atop the league table at the Balewadi Sports Complex Stadium, but 90 minutes failed to break the ice.

Both teams fielded changed lineups—the most notable being the return of Anas Edathodika for Pune FC to bolster their shaky defense. Edgar Marcelino’s absence meant a start for Lalramluaha in the attack.

On the other hand, Goans handed Germanpreet Singh, their goal scorer from the previous game, a rare start.

The Dempo side which had scored just 4 goals from their opening four games looked more likely to threaten the goalmouth as the home team was pushed on the backfoot right from the start of the game. Majority of the goal bound threat came from the visitors’ foreign contingent in the form of the telepathic linkup play between Carlos Hernandez and their star Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey.