Bengaluru FC prevailed Sunday in one of the most important games of the I-League this season as they overwhelmed Kolkata giants East Bengal at the Kanteerava Stadium. The 2013-14 champions also took a huge step towards clinching their second I-League title in three years.
Goals from Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Kim Song Yong and Malasawmzuala did the trick for the hosts as they got past the travelling side with a 3-1 margin. Bengaluru FC have two games remaining in their I-League campaign this season, and three points in any of the games will hand them the title.
It may have seemed to the fans it was an easy task for the Sunil Chhetri-led side, but BFC head coach Ashley Westwood preferred to use a quote made famous by baseball legend Yogi Berra, who died last year. "It's never over till it's over," the English coach was quoted as saying by Goal.
"I've been in football for a long time to know that. The message to the players is to calm themselves down and enjoy the win. Don't want to kill that off," Westwood added. "There were some really good performances. I've told them that they have one foot in the door (I-League title)."
Being complacent is something Westwood has never tolerated, and prior to going into the two matches, he recounted one instance from his personal life where he faced that "so near yet so far" moment. "I've had one foot in many nightclub doors and been refused entry. So hopefully, that doesn't happen this time again, I'll try to make sure of that," Westwood commented on BFC's I-League title grasp.
The former Manchester United academy graduate also said he was impressed with some of the East Bengal players and could think of signing them in summer.
"As individuals, we have the best individuals in the league," Westwood was quoted as saying about his side in another report by Goal. "East Bengal have some good ones we could even think about signing. But these guys at Bengaluru are grounded and hardworking ones and they're the best ones to be involved with," he added.
