Photo Credit – @BaniyasClub Twitter

The game began with both sides battling for possession in midfield. The first chance of the game came in the 7^th minute that fell to the Baniyas player Harry Novillo, whose strike from a distance was brilliantly tipped away at full stretch by blues keeper Mawia. Blues quickly responded with an attack of their own. In the tenth minute, Chhetri squared the ball for Daniel to strike, whose effort went just wide.

However In the 17^th minute, Baniyas took the lead after Novillo found himself in space to shoot past Mawia off a cross from the right flank. Conceding the goal, Blues came back with a flurry of attacks, First Collin played Daniel through on goal only for Baniyas keeper Adel to come out & block his effort. A minute later, another chance flew by when Dimas found Chhetri from a set piece situation only for the captain to flick it over the bar. But it was once again, Baniyas that extended the lead in the 38^th minute, when Hamad Saleh header beat Mawia to make it 2-0. Both sides entered the break with blues trailing by two goals

The second half began with blues coming out all guns blazing, Roca brought on Nishu, Lenny and Dovale replacing Collin, Zotea and Daniel with a tweaked formation in search of goals. A series of corners and set pieces resulted in blues coming closer to scoring a couple of times. In the 51th minute, a Juanan header from one such Dimas set-pieces was finely tipped over by Baniyas Keeper. Bengaluru kept on attacking as Udanta and Dimas continued to deliver crosses into the box but no avail. However in the 72^nd minute against the run of play, Baniyas were granted a penalty after Bheke brought Omar down inside the box. But Mawia judged the spot-kick correctly to deny Omar and Baniyas the goal.

Also Read: Independent India’s 1st football game – An Olympic encounter

With time running out, Roca decided to switch plans as he brought his entire bench replacing the likes of Dimas, Udanta, Chhetri, Juanan, Erik and Khabra. Academy graduates Kalinga and leon were given a run in the game too. Minutes past the substitution, blues conceded their third goal as Almansoori zipped past his marker before slotting the ball past Mawia to make it 3-0. Blues lost their sting after the substitutions as apart from a Robinson’s strike from distance that forced a save from rival goalkeeper, Blues couldn’t get any breakthrough despite having plenty of possession.

The game ended at 3-0 as blues failed to win any of the three pre-season games. Albert Roca will have an added concern of blues leaking defence, which has conceded a total of 8 goals in 3 games so far. Although it must be noted that John Johnson blue’s first choice central defender hasn’t featured in any of the pre-season games so far.

Blues now head back to Bengaluru where they will face North Korean side 4.25 SC in the AFC Cup Inter-zonal Semi-Final on August 23^rd.

Final Score: Baniyas Club 3 (Novilla 17’,Hamad 38’, Al Mansoor 78’ ) – 0 Bengaluru FC

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Photo credit – @BengaluruFC Twitter

Blues suffered their second loss of their pre-season campaign in a game where Albert Roca chose to try out few of his new signings and a couple of academy boys.

Blues started without Juanan and Johnson in the back giving out the chance to new signings Subashish and Zotea while Bheke started on rightback. Blues no.1 keeper Mawia and Pacy winger Udanta too started in the playing XI.

The first half was an evenly contested affair with both the sides creating fair number of chances. In the 12^th minute, Blues trialist Youssef tried a quick 1-2 with Chhetri before firing just wide of the post. Six minutes later, Udanta created a chance with a cross that Khabra cut back for Erik whose final shot was blocked. Udanta created a lot of trouble for the opponent with his pace, firing in dangerous crosses from the flanks.

As the half wore on, the home side came back into game. In the 35^th minute, a lobbed effort went just wide but two minutes later Cartagena player Chavaro hit the woodwork. With the half coming to an end, Cartagena increased their pressure with a series of corner. Soon a minute before break, Kukii zalazar gave the home side a lead.

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Second half began on a worse note as after a series of corners for the Cartagena; blues conceded two goals in the space of three minute. In the 52^nd minute, confusion in the blues defence was capitalised by Aketxe as he slotted home from a close range. Two minutes later, Aketxe doubled his tally as blues defence failed to clear a low cross.

Soon Roca ringed in number of changes to give his bench a try out. In the 69^th minute, Collin sent in a good cross but Semboi’s header at the end went wayward. In the final ten minutes, academy graduates Kalinga and Leon, both of whom recently played against the Japanese side Avispa Fukuoka U18 back in early August, were given a try out.

The game ended at 3-0 as blues defensive lapses cost them again conceding three goals in the space of ten minutes on either side of half.

Final Score: Bengaluru FC 0 – 3 FC Cartagena (Zalazar 44’, Aketxe 52’, 54’)

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In a keenly fought out game, FC Goa got their game going on home ground with Robert Pires as captain. Both team had a number of chances to take the lead but the first half ended 0-0. FC Goa players strung a number of passes around the field to the delight of the fans that filled up the west stand.

In the second half FC Goa came out with the sole aim of winning this game and remaining undefeated. And the aim was fulfilled when FC Goa’s marquee player Robert Pires was brought down in the penalty box in the 58^th minute of play. The fans were delighted as Pires opened his account for FC Goa with a superb spot kick. Vasco SC played out their hearts and also got the fans cheering as the game came to a close.

Said Manager and Chief Coach Zico post the match, “We wanted to play at the same time as when the matches will be held to familiarize ourselves to the prevailing conditions on the field. Vasco Sports Club played well. We had a few opportunities but didn’t convert them. But the team is shaping up well with new additions like Ranti Martins and Narayan Das getting game time today.”

Added co owner Shrinivas Dempo, “FC Goa was very much in control of the game. The team looks fit and charged. We look set for the league”.

Ahead of ISL, which will begin on October 12, the franchise teams have been playing friendly matches with various football clubs. In its first friendly match played some days ago FC Goa triumphed over Sesa Football Academy by a margin of 3 goals (Score 3-0) and scored a win against the India national U-19 team with a score of 4-0.

Zico has begun putting the FC Goa lads through the motions at team training sessions and is gearing for the first season of the ISL.

FC Goa will play their first ISL match against Chennaiyans FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Margao on October 15, 2014.

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