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Bengaluru FC beat Dempo 2-4 to clinch the I-League title in their debut season – the first time ever in the I-League. With the win, Bengaluru FC now have 44 points from 23 matches – a 4 point lead over East Bengal who have also played 23 matches and cannot catch up with just one game left in the season.
The JSW-owned club managed to get off to the best possible start with striker Robin Singh putting in a cross from the left to set up strike partner Sean Rooney for a simple tap-in in just the second minute of the game. Bengaluru showed some real urgency to score in the initial stages of the match with some neat passing moves and quick counter-attacks.
Skipper Sunil Chettri appeared to have doubled the lead for Bengaluru when he headed home in the 34th minute but the referee had blown the whistle for a foul on the Dempo defender. The first half ended with Dempo on the front foot while the table toppers were content to sit back and defend deep in their half.
The second half started with Bengaluru on the offensive and they got their rewards soon enough as Robin Singh doubled the lead for the team with a strike from outside the box that beat Dempo goalkeeper Kattimani in the 56th minute. The title seemed to be wrapped up when captain Sunil Chettri set up Johnny Menyongar for the third goal in the 79th minute.
Dempo then threw the kitchen sink at Bengaluru and got a goal back through Brazilian Beto in the 81st minute. Dempo’s comeback looked to be on when the cut the deficit to one goal after Romeo scored a scorcher in the 88th minute, but skipper Sunil Chettri added a goal with virtually the last kick of the game to seal the win and the maiden I-league title for Bengaluru FC.
There were scenes of jubilation as the final whistle went and it was the perfect ending to a season in which the club and its fans have made Indian football a whole lot better. 500 fans had also made the trip to Goa to support the Blues.
Bengaluru will play the final game of the season against Sporting Clube de Goa on the 28th of April.
