BMFC kick off a winner

After shaky start, BMFC grabbed the initiative as their mid-fielders comprising Jamal, Uday Konar, Suresh Singh and James Singh used the full width of the pitch by switching flanks often. BMFC, only the second professional club in the country, dominated but wasted a hat-ful of chances.

Abdul Khalique and Herbert Philip, former TFA striker James Singh and Jamal should have seen BMFC well ahead at the interval but that was not to be. Jamal could have got another in the first half when James cross from left foundPhilips and he set a ball for Jamal. His shot from close range could find the side net only.

Philip and Khalique were guilty of missing half-a-dozen chances in the first-half. In the 31st minute, Jamal crossed a low pass to Philip from the left-wing but the former Mahindras striker8217;s tap went inches away from the goal. A couple of minutes later, Khalique8217;s header off a cross from James could only found a left post and came back into play. Philip got another chances from the close range when Jamal8217;s mis-connected shot rolled close to him and his tap was again off target.

After the breather also, both the BMFC strikers missed another couple of chances each. The team8217;s defence comprising Rehmattulah, Sanjay Dayal, Manjinder Singh and skipper Aloke Das was shaky in the beginning but later, did a good job of keeping the Mahindras strikers away. Rime, BMFC custodian had a good match except for two occasions where he failed to judge the flight of the ball.

Mahindras8217; mid-field failed miserably in the firsthalf and few lapses in the defence also put the relegated National Football League side under further pressure.

Mahindras, third last season, had their chances but seasoned campaigner Santosh Kashyap struck the bar from a corner in the 13th minute and shortly later Satish Minz8217;s long-ranger drew former team-mate goalkeeper Gumpe Rime to a spectacular save.

Mahindras mid-field failed miserably in the first half and few lapses in the defence also increased the pressure on the team. Mahindras had a better start in comparison to BMFC as Samshi Raza, the former East Bengal striker, dribbled past BMFC defence on couple of time and showed his class. But due to a knee injury, he was forced to leave the field.

Hakkim, Mahindras coach brought in three changes in the form of PJ Jose, Harish Sharma and Aliuddin. Sharma did make a impression by sending in some curling crosses from the left-wing. But Jose, the other substitute could not keep his header in the frame-work.

Jamshed Nassiri, the Iranian coaching BMFCsaid,8220;It is really a good beginning but we could not field our best players as their transfers are still being processed.8221; A legend in his playing days for Mohd Sporting and East Bengal, Nassiri highlighted the hot and humid weather which forced his side take time to settle down while S Hakkim, Mahindras coach, cited the inept distribution done by his mid-fielders as a factor that went against his team.