The breakthrough came early in the 8th minute. A smart wall pass from Nikhil split the defence, sending Lijo into the box with space to finish. He made no mistake, firing a clean low shot into the bottom corner to give FCBU the perfect start. The attacking momentum continued, with Dhruv making a strong run down the flank and delivering a cross to Lijo, who couldn’t quite adjust his angle for the header. Soon after, Bidya released Nikhil with a beautifully weighted through ball, but an extra touch allowed the goalkeeper to close him down. Nikhil found himself in another 1v1 shortly after but couldn’t convert, while Ribhav forced the opposition keeper into an acrobatic save with a powerful strike from distance.
United Stars nearly punished the missed chances late in the half when a loose defensive moment allowed them to slip through the backline. A scramble ensued, but Srijith reacted sharply to smother the danger and preserve the lead heading into halftime.
The second half saw FCBU continue to create opportunities, though the cutting edge remained elusive. Nikhil set up Dhruv with a well-timed through ball, but the shot went narrowly wide. Minutes later, a corner was cleared only as far as Bidya, whose volley looked promising before a deflection took it away from goal. Dhruv then delivered another excellent cross into the box, but Nikhil’s header rose over the bar — another close call.
Despite not extending their advantage, FCBU remained disciplined, managing the game well and keeping United Stars from generating any major threats in the second period. At full time, the early goal proved enough, sealing a vital 1–0 win for FCBU.
A determined, hard-working performance that keeps FC Bengaluru United firmly in the title race as the season enters its decisive phase with the final round of games coming up.