Rahul, Lalrintluanga Bag Hat-Tricks As Blue Colts Cement Top Spot With Four Wins In Four At Home

Bellary: Bengaluru FC romped to massive 12-1 win over Anathapur Sports Academy in their final home game of the Karnataka-Andhra Phase in the Hero U18 Youth League at the Vidyanagar Township, in Bellary, on Monday.

The big win was powered by hat-tricks from Lalrintluanga Chawnglut (8’, 42’, 78’) and Rahul Rajan (16’, 45’, 55’), along with goals from Lalrinfela (68’, 81’), Amay Morajkar (17’), Ronik Singh (18’), Arun Kumar (47’) and Akashdeep Singh (59’). Rangakedaranath Sai Aeddula (20’) scored what would be a consolation for the visitors in the first half.

The result means Bengaluru FC stay on top of the Karnataka-Andhra zone with 18 points, ahead of FC Mangalore (16) and Ozone FC (15). While FC Mangalore have played all their games, Ozone FC will battle the Blues for the top spot in the decisive game next week.

Bengaluru who attacked from the very first kick of the game broke the deadlock in the 8th minute when midfielder Lalrintluanga let fly from 25-yards out leaving Ananthapur ’keeper Surendhar Boggu with no chance. The latter was a mere spectator when the Blue Colts struck rapidly in a three-minute spell.

First, Rahul Rajan fired home from the edge of the box in the 16th minute, before he set up skipper Amay Morajkar for a simple tap in with a great low ball in from the right a minute later. Moments later, it was Ronik Singh who scored with a similar tap in on Arun Kumar’s pass from the right.

While the Blues were rampant going forward, a counter attack at the other end allowed Ananthapur Sports Academy to pull one back. Pushing up, Rangakedaranath chipped one over an advanced Tamal Naskar in the BFC goal to make it 4-1 in the 20th minute.

Minutes before the half time break, both Lalrintluanga and Rahul completed their braces to make it a 6-1 as both sides made their way into the dressing rooms. Lalrintluanga was set up by Rahul for a finish at the second post with a neat ball in from the right in the 42nd minute, before Rahul scored from Arun Kumar’s lay off in the at the stroke of half-time.

It took less than two minutes for the Blue Colts to further increase their advantage in the second half as Arun Kumar’s cross in from the right found the back of the net to make it 7-1 with Boggu failing to clear his lines. Eight minutes later, Rahul completed his hat-trick finishing off a brilliant solo run before substitute Akashdeep too got his name on the scoresheet capitalising on a weak clearance inside the box to make it 9-1 to the hosts.

Lalrinfela struck the Blue Colts’ tenth goal of the afternoon, reacting quickly to head home after Boggu spilled Lalrintluanga’s freekick into the box in the 68th minute. It was not long before the latter completed his hattrick, this time tapping home from close after Tanmoy Saha’s solo effort came off the woodwork. Lalrinfela then sealed the game with his brace, curling into the top left corner after dribbling past two defenders on the right.

The Blue Colts will now face Ozone FC in their final group game at the Bangalore Football Stadium on December 10th.