Bengaluru FC holds Sporting with last-gasp equaliser

NEUFC sees off Sudeva to get on the points table

N. Siva Sakthi played the substitute role well to find the equaliser in injury time and help Bengaluru FC (BFC) hold a 10-man Mohammedan Sporting 1-1 in the concluding Group A league match of the 131st Durand Cup football tournament at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Friday.

The result saw Mohammedan Sporting emerge the group champion with 10 points from three wins and a draw. Bengaluru FC finished second with eight points from two wins and as many draws.

The two made the quarterfinals, while Jamshedpur FC (six points), FC Goa (four) and Indian Air Force (zero) exited from the league stage.

Sporting looked more organised to begin with and kept the star-studded Bengaluru side under pressure right from the start.

The local giant found the lead in the 13th minute when its wing-back Abhash Thapa essayed a back-centre which was met with a rasping volley from Sheikh Faiaz. Bengaluru goalkeeper Lara managed to block the shot but Pritam Singh was close by to slot home the rebound.

Sporting was reduced to 10 men in the 74th minute when midfielder Abhisek Halder was marched off with the second booking of the match. Bengaluru continued to push for the equaliser but failed repeatedly as its attack combination of Sunil Chhetri and Roy Krishna failed to do much in the Sporting box.

Siva Sakthi, who came in as a late substitute, came to the rescue of BFC and helped it preserve the unbeaten record against Mohd. Sporting.