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Substitute Damaitphang Lyngdoh scored with what was the last kick of the game, as Bengaluru FC claimed a stunning come-from-behind 3-2 win over Raman Vijayan Soccer Schools in the Hero Elite League at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Monday.
Lalthangliana’s goal (23′) had given the Blues the lead in the first-half, before a second-half double from RVSS skipper Siva Sakthi (60′, 88′ pen) left the hosts staring at their first defeat in the competition. However, late goals from Bekey Oram (90′) and Lyngdoh (90+6′) meant Bengaluru FC avoided a slip-up and claimed their fourth win on the trot in the zonal phase.
The result also extended Naushad Moosa’s boys’ 100% start to the competition, as the Blues maintained their top spot in the Chennai-Bengaluru group with 12 points from four games.
After a slow start, the Blues began making inroads into the rival box, forcing RVSS keeper Sherif Mohammed into making a few saves. Moosa’s boys took the lead midway through the first half when a neat pass from Fredy Chawngthansanga opened up space for Lalthangliana down the right. The Bengaluru Number 7 controlled the ball before firing it into the bottom corner at the far post.
While the first half was dominated majorly by the Blues, the visitors came out stronger in the second half and levelled the scores on the hour mark. With Bengaluru FC losing possession in the rival half, RVSS capitalised and pushed ahead on a counter. Skipper Siva Sakthi took the ball down the left before managing to beat Dipesh Chauhan at his far post.
Bengaluru FC kept the pressure on in their attempts to win the lead again and almost netted a second in the 75th minute when substitute Akashdeep Singh connected Muhammed Rafi’s long thrown in from the left, only for his header to come off the woodwork.
RVSS capitalized on a defensive error from the Blues to take the lead against the run of play. It was RVSS skipper Sakthi once again, who managed to score from the spot after being brought down in the box by defender Johnson Singh.
The Blues however, pulled level less than two minutes later as midfielder Bekey netted in the final minute of regulation time to make it 2-2. Lalthangliana, facing away from goal, found Bekey with an overhead lob. Miscommunication ensued in the RVSS box as Bekey capitalized with a lob over the rival custodian, who had come out in a failed attempt to block.
The hosts threw all men up front in search of the winner and were finally rewarded in the sixth minute of injury time. Capitalizing on a poor clearance, substitute Lyngdoh managed to get past a defender with a clever nutmeg before firing it past the rival custodian to spark wild celebrations.
Bengaluru FC now host FC Madras at the Bangalore Football Stadium on January 12.
