Press Trust of India
Margao, Jan 11: Bengaluru FC lifted their maiden Federation Cup football tournament title when they edged past 10-man Dempo FC 2-1 in the summit clash here Sunday. Sunil Chhetri (10th minute) and substitute Robin Singh (65th) scored for the winners while Tolgay Ozbey (45+4) pulled one back for the home team at Nehru Stadium at Fatorda here.
This was the second major title for Bengaluru FC in their two years of existence. They won the I-League last season. For Dempo FC, who won the title last in 2004, they finished runners-up for the fifth time.
Bengaluru FC defender Curtis Osano was declared the ‘Hero of the Match’ and was awarded Rs 10,000. Dempo’s Romeo Fernandes, who scored four goals, was named ‘Hero of the Tournament’ and was rewarded with Rs 1,00,000.
The match started at a slow pace but Bengaluru FC took an early lead as they earned a penalty after Dempo defender Haroon Fakhruddin pushed Eugenseson Lyngdoh down inside the box while going for an aerial ball from a flag kick taken on the left. Chhetri did not make any mistake from the spot, beating keeper Laxmikant Kattimani to his right to score his sixth goal of the tournament.
Dempo’s persistent attack finally paid off as they earned a penalty in the stoppage time of the first half. John Johnson blocked Fakhruddin inside the box as he was running for the ball and the referee awarded the penalty. Tolgay took the penalty and blasted the ball to the right of keeper Lalthuammawia Ralte.
Bengaluru started better in the second session and enjoyed better ball possession and took the lead in the 65th minute when a move on the right saw Thoi Singh send a measured cross for substitute Robin Singh to nod home a powerful header past a diving Kattimani.
Dempo suffered a double blow three minutes later when defender Rowilson Rodrigues was shown a direct red card by the referee for a dangerous foul on Thoi.
The visitors, who enjoyed the numerical advantage, had a couple of chances to increase the lead but first a Chhetri header was saved by the keeper by diving to his left and then Francis Fernandes made a goalline save.
