Chennaiyin Reserves win with penalty, Bengaluru 'B' go down 3-0 to Langsning

The young Blues’ five-match unbeaten run ends with a home loss.

A Prosenjit Chakraborty spot-kick handed Chennaiyin FC 'B' a 1-0 win over Mohammedan Sporting in the Second Division League here today. This was their second consecutive 1-0 win, having beaten Langsning FC by the same margin three days back.

Looking to avenge the 4-0 defeat to their opponents in the reverse fixture, CFC 'B' made three changes as Aman Chetri, Hendry Antonay and captain Prosenjit Chakraborty started in place of Joseph Lalsanglura, Reamsochung 'Remy' Aimol and Joysana Singh who dropped to the bench. And it was a homecoming of sorts for Mohammedan Sporting striker Fikru Teferra, an ISL winner with Chennaiyin FC in 2015.

The visitors dominated possession in the opening stages but CFC maintained their defensive shape, pressing the visitors every chance they got. Mohammedan Sporting had a couple of chances to go in front when Dalraj Singh sent a free header wide and Fikru fired just off-target in quick succession.

The Ethiopian striker then played a one-two with Cho Tshering Lepcha in the 25th minute before lobbing a cross-cum-shot across goal that missed everybody. From the resulting break, CFC striker Aman Chetri tore down the left flank with his cross causing the visitors' defence discomfort.

Chennaiyin remained a threat on the break and they took the lead through one such move, thanks to Prosenjit's brilliance. The CFC 'B' skipper picked the ball up in his own half and bombed down the right flank, getting past four opponents before squaring the ball to B. Rohmingthanga who was fouled in the area. Prosenjit stepped up and sent the Mohammedan Sporting keeper Subham Roy the wrong way to put his side in front.

The Kolkata side tried to fight back immediately but their attempts were wayward. CFC could've doubled their lead on the counter when Rohmingthanga's cross was headed down by Aman for Bedashwor Singh, whose goalbound effort was blocked by a defender.

Mohammedan Sporting continued to pile the pressure on Chennaiyin in search of the equalizer, but the latter's defence held strong. Rohmingthanga was a constant menace for CFC 'B' going forward, finding pockets of space behind the opposition defence to run into.

It took just a penalty to make all the difference in the match ©Mohammedan Sporting Media

The Kolkata side's first shot on target in the second-half was a scissor kick on the hour mark from Syrian midfielder Wael Ayan that went straight to CFC keeper Sayak Barai, who did well to hold on. Ayan went close again a minute later when his low drive from outside the box went just wide.

Syed Suhail Pasha and Lalliansanga Renthlei replaced Rohmingthanga and Aman in the last quarter of the match with Chennaiyin's backs to the wall. Their introduction injected freshness for CFC upfront as gaps continued to open up with Mohammedan Sporting on the offensive.

It was end-to-end in the closing stages as Prosenjit and Bedashwor had a couple of chances to score while Fikru and Dipendu Dowary wasted half-chances for the visitors. With five minutes left on the clock, Zonunmawia put Suhail through on goal, who deliberated on the ball for far too long before losing his footing at the last moment.

Chennaiyin defended remarkably well with seven stoppage time minutes added on, as Mohammedan Sporting threw men forward. CFC 'B', with an average age of 18, held on for another spirited victory over an experienced senior outfit. Their next encounter will be against Bengaluru FC 'B' at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Saturday, May 5.

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Bengaluru FC ‘B’ suffered their first loss of the campaign going down 0-3 to Langsning FC in a sixth round 2nd Division League encounter at the Bangalore Football Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Wednesday. Lancine Toure (45+3’), Kitboklang Pale (89’) and Brolington Warlarpih (90+5’) scored for the visitors who ended the Blues’ five-match unbeaten start to the competition.

Coach Naushad Moosa opted for an unchanged line up as they took field in the return leg against the Shillong-based side on an overcast afternoon.

While the Blues had a handful of chances in the opening period, it was Langsning who were dominating the game with their fast attacking play. Bengaluru custodian Aditya Patra was kept busy throughout the first period and he produced a number of saves, notably from Kento Sakurai and Lancine Toure’s attempts, to keep the scores unchanged. 

The Blues’ defense was finally broken in first half injury time when a towering header from Toure on Kitboklang’s corner in from the right beat Patra in goal. The ‘keeper who had been brilliant till the goal, ended up injuring his shoulder in the process and had to be replaced by Shainkhan CP.

Bengaluru pushed hard in search of an equalizer in the second half and had close chances through midfielder Naorem Roshan Singh and skipper Myron Mendes. However, the duo failed to convert as the hosts’ search for a leveler continued.

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While the Blues pushed up, the visitors struck twice in quick succession in the final minutes to seal a win. First it was Kitboklang who broke free on a counter from the left before finishing past Shainkhan. The Shillong-based side scored a third deep into extra time as skipper Brolington converted from the spot after Kitboklang was brought down in the box by defender Prashanth Kalinga.

BFC ‘B’ host Mohammedan Sporting next at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Sunday, April 29.