Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 1: Bengaluru FC and Lonestar Kashmir FC traded goals either side of halftime to eventually share the spoils in a Group A Rest of India U-19 I-League encounter at Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi today.
Right-winger Assar Mohd gave Kashmir the lead in the 16th minute tucking neatly into the far corner off a Wasiq Wani pullback from the byline inside the box. BFC equalized through Nirnaik Naik right at the end of the half, the forward turning in a low cross from left-winger Shelton Nickson.
The second half meandered on before springing to life in the last ten minutes. Much to the anguish of the vociferous Kashmir supporters, BFC took the lead for the first time in the match, Mani Vannan beating the onrushing keeper to slot home at the back post.
Just when the Bangaluru Coach Richard Hood marshalled Blues looked to see off the tie riding the one goal lead, Kashmir got their second courtesy Wani’s delightful dink past the advancing keeper.
The Kashmir side started the match brightly with their attacking trio of Danish Farooq, Adnan and Mohd Uneeb combining well from the word go. BFC on the other hand won three corners inside the first twenty minutes to Kashmir’s two but the boys in blue lacked teeth up front.
Kashmir FC should have doubled the tally had Adnan not passed the ball to Wani who was offside from a good angle.
At the other end, BFC’s forward Nishant Bhatt dragged wide a gilt-edged chance to peg back after Naik had set him up beautifully.
It was not until the 82nd minute that the second period hit top gear, albeit making no difference to the final score.
Five minutes later Kashmir FC drew level. Wani got on the end of Adnan’s pass to lob the keeper with the ball bouncing into the back of the net. BFC Keeper Srijith was punished for his rash tackle on Adnan a minute later, earning a second booking to make the long walk down the tunnel.
Match ended at 2-2 scoreline, thus sharing single point out of first match. Kashmir FC impressed everyone by the way of play in their debut appearance in I-League. Kashmir FC will lock horns against Hindustan FC in their second match of the pool on February 4, 2015.
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