Bengaluru FC are just three points away from bagging their second I-League title in three years. However, the big question remains if they can achieve that successfully and give their supporters the perfect reason to cheer.
BFC go into their final home game of the current domestic season on Sunday as they take on Salgaocar FC in their penultimate game of the season at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. The job may not be as easy as it seems for the home side, even though the Goan side are currently fifth in the table.
The Greens, coached by Santosh Kashyap, are undefeated from their previous five fixtures in the I-League. However, the presence of a strong Bengaluru FC side at the disposal of Ashley Westwood could finally do the trick for them on Sunday.
Will BFC be under some kind of a pressure to win the I-League with one game to spare in front of their fans? Kashyap feels, yes. "It was a difficult time (at Salgaocar) when I joined. We have worked on our weaknesses. The players have implemented what I wanted," stated the former Royal Wahingdoh coach to Goal. "It is a big achievement for us.
"We are pressure free now. Bengaluru FC are under pressure. We will see if we can put more pressure and try to crack them. I believe we have the capability to do that," he added.
Last year, it was at the Kanteerava as well where BFC lost the I-League title to Mohun Bagan. This time, the scenario is the same and the result could just be a different one.
"Last year we slipped at the last moment. We have another chance now. On Sunday we have to go all out," stated BFC midfield maestro Eugeneson Lyngdoh in another report on Goal. "History repeats itself and we need to go and script our own history. We were gutted last year after losing.
"We are hungrier this year. We are looking forward to it and we will go all out. We want three points and we will only go for three points," the India international added.
On 21 April 2014, Bengaluru FC were crowned I-League champions in their debut season itself, with one game remaining. They achieved the feat after defeating Dempo 4-2 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa. Can this time the noise levels at the Kanteerava reach zenith now? It remains to be seen.
Where to watch live
I-League: Bengaluru FC vs Salgaocar FC is scheduled to kick-off at 7:05 p.m. IST (1:35 p.m. GMT), April 17.
Viewers in India and the rest of the subcontinent can catch the game on Ten 2 (Ten Action).
Online streaming will be available on tensports.com.
Live scores of the match can be found on the I-League twitter handle.
