The win was also Bengaluru FC’s eleventh of the campaign as they made it twelve games unbeaten, taking their tally to an unassailable 34 points, a point ahead of Kickstart FC (33 pts) who finished second with a 4-0 win over MEG in the second game of the day.
Going into the crucial game, Naushad Moosa made four changes, handing starts to Sairuat Kima, Gursimrat Singh Gill, Naorem Roshan Singh and most notably Suresh Singh Wangjam, who also came on as a second-half substitute against FC Goa in the Indian Super League game last night.
The Blues began on the offensive from the get go, and had three chances inside the opening seven minutes. The trio of Advait Shinde, Amay Morajkar and Suresh, all came close to breaking the deadlock but were denied by a combination of rival custodian Avijit Debnath and the frame of the goal.
Eight minutes later, Bengaluru FC doubled their advantage, when a good combination play between Edmund and Advait broke open the rival defence. Cutting in from the right, Edmund found Advait down the middle, who in turn chipped a delicate pass into the box back to the striker who continued his run and made no mistake with the finish from close range.
Coming out in the second half with a two-goal cushion, Moosa’s boys controlled the majority of proceedings and dictated the tempo of the game with chances throughout.
In the 76th minute, Ajay sealed the game with a third goal of the afternoon, scoring from the penalty spot after Roshan was brought down in the box by Ozone FC’s Aaron Rodrigues and Sree Higetta.
Final Standings, Top-5
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
1 | Bengaluru FC | 13 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 7 | +33 | 34 |
2 | Kickstart FC | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 8 | +37 | 33 |
3 | FC Bengaluru United | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 7 | +16 | 26 |
4 | ASC & Centre | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 32 | 17 | +15 | 25 |
5 | South United FC | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 17 | +6 | 23 |