Johnson strike takes Bengaluru FC to top

A first-half strike by John Johnson helped Bengaluru FC beat United Sports Club by a solitary goal in their third round match of the Airtel I-League at the Bengaluru Football Stadium here Sunday.

The win propelled them to the top of the points table with seven points from three matches.

On the other hand, this was United SC's first loss in three matches after the Kolkata side had won their first two matches at Home.

It was in the fourth minute of the match when Man of the Match Johnson headed in a perfect corner by Beikhokhei Beingaichho to register his second goal in the ongoing Airtel I-League.

Apart from scoring the winner, Johnson stood like a wall in the Bengaluru defence. His presence was very much evident as he frustrated the deadly duo of Ranti Martins and Eric Brown with his calm.

The hosts were the dominant side right from the kick-off forcing the visitors to rely more on counter attacks. The hosts could have doubled the lead in the 18th minute but Keegan Perreira failed to convert from close. Thereafter Sean Rooney's header went straight to rival Goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee.

In between, United SC had their chances too. In the 24th minute, Ranti failed to slot it past Bengaluru SC Goalkeeper Pawan Kumar and 13 minutes later, he shot it wide from inside the box.

Changing over, Bengaluru created two chances in the first two minutes itself. First, a Sunil Chhetri header sailed over and then, Rooney, all in the clear, just couldn't direct his header into the net off a cross from Pereira.

United SC tried to regroup. They did enjoy possession but failed to penetrate the Bengaluru defence. In the 80th minute, Coach Eelco Schattorie was sent-off by the Referee.

Bengaluru FC will next face Kolkata's Mohammedan Sporting at home, Oct 10.