Kolkata: FC Bengaluru United (FCBU) started their maiden Durand Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) with Pedro Manzi scoring the only goal of the tie at Kalyani Stadium on Monday.
Elsewhere at Mohun Bagan Ground, Jamshedpur FC edge past Sudeva Delhi FC by an identical 1-0 margin. FCBU had several initial scoring opportunities, with Manzi and Ronaldo Oliviera getting particularly close to scoring.
It was the 63rd minute when the deadlock was finally broken as Asraf Mondal beat the CRPF FC defenders to provide Manzi with a sublime cross, which the new signing comfortably edged past the keeper.
FCBU survived a scare when CRPF was awarded a freekick in the dying minutes of the game which Chelston Pinto safely dealt with before Sanju Pradhan narrowly missed out on the chance of extending the lead for the Bengaluru side.
“I arrived just two weeks before in India and I am happy to score the first goal for the team in their first Durand Cup appearance. I am loving my stay and the team and the owners, officials all have treated me like family,” Manzi said after the game.
Elsewhere, although Sudeva had a greater number of opportunities much to the dismay of the squad, Jamshedpur took the lead in the 34th minute, when a through ball dealt sloppy by Sudeva backs found Lalruamawia which the youngster comfortable put past the net. With Bayern Munich U-19 star Subho Paul squandering an opportunity to equalize in the second half, Jamshedpur emerged with a win.
The previous day, Mohammedan SC defeated Indian Air Force 4-1 with Milan Singh, Arijeet Singh, Azharuddin Mallick and Marcus Joseph on the score sheet for the Black and Whites.
