Blues reserves go down 1-2 to Avispa Fukuoka U18 of Japan

by Chittu Shetty August 5, 2017

In a Preseason friendly encounter Bengaluru FC Reserves side took on Japan’s Avispa Fukuoka U18 XI at Bangalore football stadium

The game began at a good pace with Bengaluru creating more of the chances in the early exchanges. In the 16^th minute, Biswa tried to play a through for Nonganba but Japanese custodian Ryuya came out just in time to collect. Minutes after the half hour mark, Nonganba found himself through on goal but his shot was blocked and Leon’s attempt to keep the ball in play was flagged offside. Four minutes later, Leon’s strike from a distance was saved by a diving Ryuyu.

Both sides entered the break all squared and it looked blues would take the charge. However Avispa U18’s started the second half more enthusiastically. In the 54^th minute, Jafar was called to action when he had to pull off a brilliant save as Hirohisa peeled away from his marker to get a shot on goal. However two minutes later the visitors took the lead. Kojima ran past Prabin to cut it back for Ohata, who made no mistake in slotting home from a close range. Blues responded immediately at the other end as Kalinga headed the ball into a dangerous area where Nonganba’s swipe just missed the target.

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As blues looked for equaliser, the visitors doubled the lead in the 82^nd minute, as Ohata skipped past two defenders to score his second. Minute later things looked to go further downhill when Blues custodian Jafar brought down Kojima to grant them a penalty. However he immediately redeemed himself by denying the penalty with a good save.

With four minutes to go, Kalinga pulled one back for the host from a corner situation. Blues piled some more pressure in the dying minutes but couldn’t make anything out of it as the game ended with Avispa winning the game 2-1.

Final Score: Bengaluru FC 1(Kalinga 86’) – 2 Avispa Fukuoka U18 (Ohata 56’, 82’)

BFC Reserves XI: Jafar, Kalinga, Tanmoy, Dawan, Prabin, Robinson, Leon (C), Biswa, Manbha, Nonganba, Isak

Subs: Vinay, Lalrinfela, Rahul, Vijay, Arun Kumar, Rafi, Arshdeep, Joseph, Lalrintluanga,

Avispa Fukuoka U18 XI: Ryuya, Tanaka, Nishi, Nishiyama, Sato, Kai, Omori, Kishi, Ohata, Kitajima, Shimogawa

Subs: Harada, Suemitsu, Hirata, Kojima.