Picture Credit: Lonestar Kashmir
Lonestar Kashmir are through to the final round after salvaging a draw against ARA FC; Bengaluru FC B end their campaign with the highest number of wins, goals, points and least goals conceded across all three groups at the end of Matchday 13 of the 2nd Division League.
Bengaluru FC Reserves finish their campaign unbeaten
Group A, Bangalore, 30 March 2019: Bengaluru FC [R] vs 2 – 0 FC Goa [R]
The impressive Bengaluru FC Reserves team picked up a 2-0 win over FC Goa [R] in their last league match to finish top of Group A. The Blue Colts have finished the season with seven wins and a draw out of eight games.
The home side took the lead in the 4th minute with the forward Edmund Lalrindika picking up a loose ball and slotting it past the keeper after the Goan defence failed to clear their lines.
Bengaluru continued to dominate proceedings and a second goal came in the 50th minute. Naorem Roshan Singh picked up a ball from Edmund in the box and an outside foot finish helped the Blues double their lead.
Both teams had a player sent off in the final minutes of the game. Bengaluru FC B’s Sairuat Kima and FC Goa’s Sarineo Fernandes were sent off late in second half stoppage time.
The win caps off an impressive campaign in the second division for Bengaluru FC B. Across Group A, B and C, they’ve picked up the highest number of points, scored the most goals and conceded the least.
Vital win for Lonestar Kashmir
Group A, Katra, 30 March 2019: Lonestar Kashmir FC 2-1 Hindustan FC
Lonestar Kashmir picked up all three points against Hindustan FC to stay in contention for passage into the final round.
Hindustan FC’s abysmal run in the tournament saw them crash to their eighth defeat in as many games and their 2nd Division campaign has come to an end without them registering a point.
The home team opened the scoring in the 9th minute with the 21-year-old forward Basit Ahmed Bhat the goal scorer. Hindustan FC did find their way back in the game with an equaliser in the 28th minute – the former Real Kashmir player Raja Musharaf Dar got on the score sheet for the Delhi side.
However, Hindustan FC’s path of self-destruction this season reared its head again today. An own goal by the defender Trokon Saykiamien in the 59th minuted handed the home side the lead and the win.
FC Goa [R] finish their campaign on a high
Group A, Katra, April 3 2019: Lonestar Kashmir FC 0-2 FC Goa [R]
Lonestar Kashmir went down against FC Goa to give a slither of hope to ARA FC who alongside Lonestar are the favourites to go into the final round from Group A.
The teams remained scoreless well into the second half and the game looked it was hurtling towards a draw – however two goals in quick succession in the 81st and 84th minute ensured the Reserves’ side ended their campaign with a win. The goalscorers for the young Gaurs were Hayden Fernandes and Aaren D’ Silva.
With the loss today, Lonestar have to ensure they don’t lose their last league game against ARA FC to go through to the final round.
10-man Lonestar Kashmir hold ARA FC to a draw and secure qualification
Group A, Katra, April 6 2019: Lonestar Kashmir FC 1-1 ARA FC
Needing a draw to secure qualification into the final round, Lonestar Kashmir battled for more than 60 minutes with 10 men to secure a point and go through.
ARA FC needing a win to go through at the expense of Lonestar went down a goal in the 26th minute with the Nigerian Hamza Auta Abdullahi getting on the score sheet.
Trailing by a goal, ARA FC needed a sign and a favour to get back in the game and it came in the form of a red card for the Lonestar player Adeyemi Wahab Lasisi in the 29th minute. ARA took advantage and scored minutes later in the 33rd through Parminder Singh.
After the scores were level, ARA would throw the kitchen sink at Lonestar for the duration of the game and attacked in numbers – but Lonestar would hold on to deny the 2nd division debutantes a goal and passage into the final round.
GROUP A
| pos | team | p | w | d | l | gf | ga | gd | pts |
| 1 | Bengaluru FC (R) | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 23 | 22 |
| 2 | FC Goa (R) | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 15 |
| 3 | Lonestar Kashmir | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 13 | -5 | 11 |
| 4 | ARA FC | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 14 | -4 | 10 |
| 5 | Hindustan FC | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 29 | -24 | 0 |
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