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Bengaluru FC bid to win a fifth title in as many seasons of the club’s existence when they take on East Bengal in the final of the Super Cup on Friday. East Bengal coach Khalid Jamil stressed on the fact that his team needs to play their own game and not fret too much about their opponents, Bengaluru FC, in the final of the Super Cup 2018 slated to be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday. [caption id=“attachment_4439811” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
East Bengal take on Bengaluru FC in the final. Super Cup [/caption] “Bengaluru FC are a good team. We need to be positive all throughout,” Jamil said on the eve of the match. “There is always a temptation to try to think differently for a final. But we need to go ahead with normal preparations which we do for every match,” he stated. “We need to think about ourselves and stay positive. We need to play our game.” Jamil also lavished praise on technical director Subash Bhowmick for “helping the team.” “He has been helping us improve in every area,” Jamil said. Central defender Eduardo Ferreira felt the red and golds cannot afford any lapse in concentration. “We need to stay switched on all throughout. BFC are one of the best teams in the country. We will give our best but it’s more important to stay alert. Even for a moment, we get a bit complacent, we will be hit hard,” he maintained. Jamil, meanwhile, refused to read much into the trio of Udanta Singh, Nicolas Fedor (Miku) and Sunil Chhetri who have been doing the trick for BFC upfront. “Everyone is speaking about the trio. But in the midfield, Lenny Rodrigues has been in sublime form too. There’s quality in every department and not just their strikers. Their bench strength is very strong,” Jamil said. Jamil said he hopes that striker Dudu Omegbemi will get back to match fitness before the final. With inputs from IANS
Super Cup 2018 Highlights, Bengaluru FC vs East Bengal: Blues clinch their 5th trophy with 4-1 win
Bengaluru FC bid to win a fifth title overall when they take on East Bengal in the final of the Super Cup. Follow our blog for live scores and updates.
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Thank you so much for following our coverage of the Super Cup final.
Time for us to sign off. Adios!
Bengaluru FC win 4-1 courtesy goals from Rahul Bheke, Sunil Chhetri and Miku.
Kromah scored the sole goal for East Bengal.
Five seasons, five trophies for Bengaluru FC.
Party time for Bengaluru FC! Fireworks explode in the sky to celebrate their victory in the Super Cup final.
FULL-TIME! It ends 4-1 and Bengaluru FC are crowned the inaugural Suer Cup champions.
This is Bengaluru’s FIFTH trophy in just as many seasons since the club was founded.
Four minutes of added time!
Bengaluru FC are heading to their 5th title.
Just like I said, Bengaluru FC scored the fourth goal.
Sunil Chhetri with a good header and that seals the title for Bengaluru.
GOAL! Sunil Chhetri scores his second of the match and makes it 4-1 for Bengaluru FC.
We are minutes away from the final whistle.
YELLOW CARD to Johnson for a foul on Katsumi.
The Bengaluru man ends up going into the referee’s book after all in this match after his earlier yellow card was rescinded.
It’s drizzling in Bhubaneswar.
The rain gods have decided to visit the Kalinga Stadium. Five minutes left to play as lights are turned on.
Looks like East Bengal have given up on the match. Now they are happy to defend as Bengaluru are enjoying all the possession.
Don’t be surprised if we see a fourth goal from Bengaluru FC.
Final 10 minutes to go!
Bengaluru FC happy to just pass the ball around as they can sense that the trophy is within their grasp.
They lead 3-1 over East Bengal in this inaugural Super Cup final.
East Bengal suffering from complete mental breakdown. Terrible from Gurwinder Singh as the ball hits his raised hand in the box and Bengaluru’s Sunil Chhetri converts from the spot-kick.
Just minutes later, Miku makes it 3-1 thanks to another defensive lapse.
GOAL! Miku makes it 3-1 for Bengaluru FC.
Two goals in quick succession and it feels like it’s game over for East Bengal.
Fantastic effort from Miku as he picks up the pass, touches his way into space and smashes it into the top corner from inside the area.
GOAL! Sunil Chhetri makes it 2-1 for Bengaluru FC.
Penalty to Bengaluru after Gurwinder was found guilty of handling the ball inside the East Bengal box.
Captain Chhetri steps up to the spot and coolly converts by kicking the ball into the bottom corner.
Bengaluru FC are piling up the pressure once again!
It’s only a brilliant save from Ubaid that has kept the score at 1-1.
Huge chance missed by Perez!
The Bengaluru man had an excellent opportunity to score but he heads the ball wide instead.
Here comes Toni Dovale as Bengaluru are certainly going for the kill.
In the semi-final against Mohun Bagan, Dovale’s introduction completely changed the game for Bengaluru. He would look to replicate the same performance today.
Gurpreet Singh redeems himself slightly by making a very important save at full stretch.
East Bengal are down to 10 men but are still attacking at every opportunity. BFC’s defence needs to step up and stop allowing their opponents so much space.
Clear offside from Kromah as he slots the ball in.
It’s still 1-1 as Khalid Jamil sacrifices midfielder Cavin Lobo for defender K Deepak. All because of Samad Mallick’s red card.
GOAL disallowed!
Kromah celebrates after putting the ball at the back of the net but he didn’t;t see that that flag was up and the goal had been denied for being offside.
But it was a huge error from Gurpreet Singh to allow Kromah to get past him.
The second half is under way at the Kalinga Stadium.
It’s 1-1 with East Bengal down to 10 men. Who do you think will win the inaugural Super Cup final?
What an entertaining first half!
The match has lived up to the expectations so far. East Bengal dominated the proceedings in the early stages and took a lead thanks to Ansumana Kromah.
It didn’t take long for Bengaluru for response as Rahul Bheke scored a good header.
Just before half-time, things went awry for East Bengal as Samad Mallick, in a fit of rage, swung his hand at Subhasish Bose which resulted in a straight red card.
Can Bengaluru FC make their advantage count?
It’s a straight red! There’s no doubt over it.
Samad Ali Mallick’s brain fade could prove costly for his team. East Bengal have to play 45 minutes or even more with 10 men.
RED CARD to Samad Ali Mallick!
Very stupid move from Samad as he swings at a Bengaluru FC player inside the box.
East Bengal have shot themselves in the foot as East Bengal are now reduced to 10 men just before half-time.
Beautiful play from Bengaluru. It should’ve been 2-1 but Victor Perez’s missed a golden chance in the box.
Bengaluru are pumped up and they are looking more confident now.
Another corner and another goal!
Rahul Bheke equalises for Bengaluru with a good header. Victor Perez delivered a perfect corner and Bheke’s physicality was too much for Ansumana Kromah who was marking him.
Game on!
GOAL! And the pressure has paid off! Bengaluru equalise.
It’s 1-1 as Rahul Bheke scores with a bullet of a header.
Sustained pressure from Bengaluru FC.
East Bengal players have all receded back in their box and are throwing bodies in the ball’s way. Bengaluru looking to equalise before half-time.
Miku with a great chance to score!
He makes a great run in the box but was stopped by one on East Bengal’s defenders.
Bengaluru are calling for a penalty but the referee isn’t paying any heed.
What a terrible mistake from goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh.
He shouldn’t have gone for clearance. A bad effort from the goalkeeper led to Kromah’s goal. East Bengal fans are rejoicing!
Former Mohun Bagan player Kromah scoring for East Bengal.
Wonder how fans of both the clubs feel about that.
https://twitter.com/Akarsh_Official/status/987285232205299712
GOAL! Kromah puts East Bengal ahead. 1-0.
The Liberian attempts an acrobatic bicycle kick and Gurpreet Singh can’t stop the ball from hitting the back of the net.
Can East Bengal thwart Bengaluru FC once again?
Chhetri attempts a shot on goal!
But his strike is saved easily by Ubaid CK, the East Bengal keeper.
Update:
Johnson’s booking has been revoked and only Gurpreet has been booked for the foul on Kromah.
The whole press box shouted red card for Gurpreet’s challenge.
Well, not all but the majority. From the replays, it did look like Gurpreet made contact with Kromah.
YELLOW CARD to Gurpreet Singh!
Kromah fouled by Johnson and Gurpreet right outside the penalty box. Yellow card shown to both players.
Both teams unhappy with the decision as BFC players argue that they didn’t make contact with Kromah in the challenge.
However, Kromah had a clear run to the goal.