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A hungry Tata Football Academy, riding on goals from Kupar Dohling and Thiyam Srivas Singh, got past Bengaluru FC with a 2-0 scoreline in a Round 2 of the Rest of India – Group A of the Under-19 I-League game at the Ambedkar Stadium in the capital.
Touted to be as one of the most crucial matches from the Group A of the Zone, the game was all but a one-sided affair as Gordon Young's boys completely dominated the play, creating a flurry of chances.
TFA led 1-0 at the half-time courtesy of Dohling's goal in the 30th minute. Left-back Thiyam Chingkheingamba delivered a beautiful cross from the left corner, and Dohling leaped over all the players in the box and slotted home with ease. In the second half Thiyam's goal in the 74th minute sealed the fate of the match, as the performance of BFC proved that a comeback was just not on the cards today.
An absolute miscommunication among the BFC defenders and custodian Calvin Abhishek inside their box helped Thiyam to capitalise on the situation and slot it inside the net. Thiyam was booked though moments later for taking his shirt off during the post-goal celebration, which also consisted of a bodybuilding pose from the youngster, probably inspired by Brazilian forward Hulk's infamous pose.
TFA skipper Konsam Sana led his men well right from the start, creating a lot of chances and himself trying his shots on goal. In the 18th minute, he tapped in the ball inside the BFC box from a long ball delivered from the midfield. Everyone thought was a goal; however, moments later, one could see BFC keeper Calvin Abhishek tugging the ball comfortably to his chest.
Sana took a free-kick in the dying stages of the first half from just outside the box after a trip on him by defender Prashantha Kalinga just at the edge of the box. The ball travelled with a lot of pace, but was at the end, caught comfortably by Abhishek.
It was déjà-vu the moment the second half started, and this time too, Sana’s shot from the free-kick went wide. The second half also saw Dohling deliver a great cross to Ongnam Romtan Singh inside the box, but the BFC custodian – probably the most lively player for BFC this afternoon – was aware and collected the ball comfortably.
Ongnam continued his exploits in the second half as his shot on goal in the 62nd minute just kissed the crossbar and went out, after Calvin just got a glove on the ball. If BFC had one chance to brag in the second half, it came from Substitute Glenn Philips in the 65th minute, whose powerful shot on goal was a comfortable catch for TFA custodian Agiapal Singh.
The BFC players had a height advantage in the game, with defender Jonathan Piers being a towering figure in the game. However, that didn't prove to be fruitful for Richard Hood's men. The constant shout of tactics to 'Pace Up' by Gordon from the touchlines instilled his boys with the much-needed confidence, and they went with the flow and secured the win.
The victory takes TFA to the top of the table now, ahead of Hindustan FC – who also bagged a win this afternoon – owing to a better goal difference.
