Salvation: Bengaluru FC recapture the I-League with a histotic 2-0 win over Salgaocar at home

THE TITLE OF the Champions of India has returned to the Garden City as the Bengaluru FC, who came painfully close to triumph but fell short last season, this time found salvation in a memorable, historic 2-0 win over Salgaocar FC at the Kanteerava Stadium.

Bengaluru FC went into this match as sheer favourites as a win was enough to seal the title and that  is exactly what they were onto as the referee blew the whistle. Yet another home match for BFC after their AFC Cup triumph. The players who were rested for it were brought back for the decider which included their captain Sunil Chhetri.

Salgaocar FC on the other hand was playing without their leading goal scorer Darrly Duffy, it was evident that the team was missing his presence.
SFC had nothing to lose as the pressure and expectation level was burdened on the shoulders of the men in blue. 

A slow start to the match as both teams were not able to keep the control of the ball. BFC came in close in the sixth minute to open their goal account as Rino shot a promising volley that forced SFC goalkeeper Karanjit come out and clear it. Two minutes later, that is in eighth minute the same guy made a sloppy mistake of which Lyngdoh took an advantage and put his team in the lead.

As they took the lead the chants got louder from the fans who flocked in huge numbers to see their team win the title for the second time. From here on SFC looked very clumsy and displayed an attitude that they had given up as BFC became the dominant side.

There were several chances for BFC to score but they just couldn't push the ball over the line into the nets. Westwood's side looked more commanding and in position as SFC were giving silly fouls that favoured the former's boys.

SFC on the other hand, looked frustrated. The only time Kashyap's men looked like they were in the game was in the 33rd minute when Manandeep's shot put BFC in a tight position but a punch from Amrinder kept the fear at bay.

Chhetri's presence was felt all over the field which pumped up the fans and also his fellow-teammates. After the end of the first half, BFC were just 45 minutes away from celebrating the night away with the trophy.
  
A slight delay for the second half to begin due to the lights as players and fans looked impatient and anxious. The second half was dominated by BFC throughout as their strategy looked like to defend that one goal with possession, defending and ball passing. There was almost an goal being scored by BFC which fastened the heartbeats of the fans but everything was safe in the end.

Almost 11,000 fans kept chanting throughout and as the time was inching closer the chant of 'Champions' became louder. A corner for the SFC side in the 83rd minute which was punched out by Amrinder. SFC just couldn't get pass through the wall of BFC defenders. In the 87th minute CK Vineeth came close to score trying to emulate what he did at AFC Cup but failed and just after that in the 88th min a goal set up by the captain found Doungel who made it double and sealed it for the blue army. 

A lot of action took place in the last few minutes, SFC were brought down to 10 men as Saran Singh got a red after receiving the second yellow card and at the final whistle Bengaluru FC were the champions of the Hero I-League.

Need we say more? #ChampionOfIndia pic.twitter.com/ztvIPuYdgv

— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) April 17, 2016

The whole stadium went nuts when the moments arrived. The entire contingent of fans present sang their hearts out as the players took a victory lap. The Blues still have a game left in their campaign; against title challege rivals Mohun Bagan on Saturday. But the pressure is off and that match is more or less an occasion for them to lift the trophy and bring it home. 

The party has begun, and it is expected to continue for quite a while as the fans finally quench the thirst that has been plaguing them for nearly a year. The Blues are finally re-captured the highest title Indian football has to offer. They are the Champions of India, twice in 3 years.