The reserve side of ISL champion Bengaluru FC managed to salvage a point following a 1-1 draw with Indian Army Red in its opening Group-A league assignment of the 129th Durand Cup football at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Monday.
The second match of the evening, held at the same venue, saw Indian Navy holding former ISL champion ATK’s second team to a 1-1 draw in a Group-B fixture.
The two Services sides succeeded in finding the lead before their ISL opponents forced a draw with late penalties coming their way.
Shil strikes
Army Red went ahead in the first-half injury-time with a strike from forward Liton Shil. Bengaluru FC restored parity in the 82nd minute when Suresh Singh Wangjam scored from the spot.
The Navy team pulled in front in the 19th minute after Harikrishna A.U. found the net, while ATK made its comeback off a 88th-minute penalty conversion by captain Prabir Das.
BFC started on a promising note creating two good opportunities in the first quarter of the action.
A goal, however, remained elusive as forward Edmund Lalrindika failed to capitalise on both occasions, in the 12th and 19th minutes, when he had Army Red goalkeeper Chandra Bahadur Tamang at his mercy.
Having lost its opening match to East Bengal, the Army side needed a win to keep itself afloat in the tournament. Army Red created few chances in the opening half before Shil found the right touch to divert home a low cross from Sunil B.
Penalty awarded
The Armymen held on to the lead till the 81st minute when Bengaluru was awarded a penalty following a foul on its wing-back Nmgyal Bhutia. Suresh Wangjan, the most hardworking name in Bengaluru FC’s attack, converted from the spot to help his side restore parity.
The results: Group A: Army Red 1 (Liton Shil 45+4) drew with Bengaluru FC 1 (Suresh Singh Wangjam 82-pen); Group B: Indian Navy 1 (Harikrishna A.U. 19) drew with ATK 1 (Prabir Das 88-pen).
