Bengaluru FC – 4 (Roy Krishna 9’ Sunil Chhetri 23’ Faisal 71’ Siva Sakthi 90+3’)
Indian Air Force FT- 0
Kolkata, Tuesday, August 23, 2022: Bengaluru FC (BFC) became the third team of the 131st
IndianOil Durand Cup to pick up a second consecutive win in as many games, after they beat the Indian
Air Force 4-0 in a Group B encounter at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan (KBK) in the southern fringes of
the city. Roy Krishan opened the scoring in the ninth minute of the match while Sunil Chhetri got the
second in the 23rd. The third was scored by Faisal Ali in the 71st minute, while young striker Siva Sakthi
got the fourth in the third minute of stoppage time.
As a result, BFC now join Mohammedan on six points in the group and both also have the same goal
difference.
All 47 matches of the 131st IndianOil Durand Cup are being telecast LIVE on Sports18 1 SD &
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The Blues gaffer Simon Grayson made as many as six changes in his starting eleven with defender Hira
Mondal being the only forced change due to a red-card picked up in their first game. Priya Darshan the
Air Force coach made two, rewarding Prabhjot Singh for his spirited play in the last game when he came
on as substitute and dropped Guizam in defence in place of Amal Das. Both surprisingly began with five
defenders in the starting line-up.
The goal came early for BFC as Roy Krishna received a cross from the left and drove in to finish with
his right, for his second of the tournament. Soon after captain Sunil Chhetri got at the end of a cross from
Prabir Das, who was tireless with his runs from the right on the day, to sneak one past Shibinraj in the
Air Force goal. It was his second of the tournament as well in as many games.
There was no further damage done for the Airmen in the first half.
BFC got their third goal in the 71st through their new recruit from Kolkata itself, Faisal Ali. Two
substitutes, Udanta and Faisal combined for it but credit should go to Suresh Wangjam who chased a
ball inside the box with Air Force defender Arashpreet on his shoulder trying to see it to touch. Suresh
persisted and kept the ball in play with a lunge and Udanta was at hand. The speedy Manipuri winger
delivered a cross across the face of goal with pin-point accuracy and Faisal coming in following the
game, had an easy tap in.
The Airmen had their best chance in the 81st minute when off a Prabhjot corner, Arashpreet jumped the
highest to deflect a powerful header towards goal but it grazed the top of the net and went out.
Suresh then had an assist for himself when he released yet another sub Siva Sakthi with a measured
through and the young BFC striker dodged the keeper to make it four.
