Kolkata (West Bengal)[India], August 15 (ANI): The Indian Air Force Football Team (IAFFT) pulled off what theoretically could be termed as an upset, holding champions Bengaluru FC (BFC) to a 1-1 draw, to earn their first 132nd Durand Cup level right here on the Kishore Bharati Krirangan (KBK).
Vivek Kumar put the Air Men forward within the first half after a defensive error, just for Salam Johnson Singh to attract stage within the second half. This was BFC’s first recreation in Group C, whereas the IAFFT could have another to go, after having misplaced the primary to Gokulam Kerala, who at present prime the group with two wins out of two.
All 43 video games of the 132nd Durand Cup are being telecast reside on Sony Sports Ten 2 channels in addition to livestreamed on SonyLIVBFC gaffer Bibiano Fernandez employed a 4-3-3 formation taking part in Edmund, Salam Johnson and Ashish Jha up entrance. IAFFT coach Priya Darshan additionally performed three upfront, giving Zico Zoram Thanga a begin, however was additionally cautious sufficient to deploy a five-man protection.
The match was cagey to start with, with either side making half-hearted makes an attempt at aim and making an attempt extra to quiet down initially.
The aim got here within the 20-minute mark out of nowhere. Md. Aqib it was who on the overlap on the left-wing, put in a innocent trying cross in no man’s land between BFC captain and centre-back Parag Shrivas and keeper Sahil. Parag monitoring again wished to first management the ball and in doing so tumbled awkwardly over it and laid in onto the trail of Vivek Kumar, whereas additionally wrong-footing Sahil multi function deadly tumble. Vivek wanted no second invitation and drilled it into an open web.
Six minutes later a cross from Mohammad Danish virtually made it a second for Vivek and this time it was meant for him and he did take it away from Sahil, however hit over the goal.
The Air Men took the one-goal lead into the break however the champions, who had been working very laborious, drew parity only a minute forward of the hour mark.
Harsh Patre, who had been very spectacular within the recreation bought maintain of the ball in the midst of the field and twisted and turned in between a few defenders to seek out Salam Johnson Singh clear to his proper. The entrance man managed and shot in direction of aim and it went in after deflecting off diving defenders.
In the 69th minute, Bibiano made a triple substitution as Shreyas Ketkar, Ashish Jha and Thokchom Singh have been changed with Lalpekhlua, Fanai and Ricky Meetei. The seek for a winner was on it appeared.
Robin Yadav had the most effective likelihood of clinching it for the champions, when he adopted an Edmund free-kick fantastically on the far put up, however his head from hand-shaking distance discovered Air Force keeper Dinesh’s glove, struck the left upright and went out for a nook.
BFC had the lion’s share of possession within the recreation and likewise had 14-shots at aim to their opponent’s six, with six of these photographs on the right track, however regardless of seven minutes added on ultimately, the impasse couldn’t be damaged. (ANI)