With the sun at its precipice, FC Bengaluru United huffed up and puffed to a 1-0 win over FC Deccan to secure the maiden silverware in the club's short history here at the Bangalore Football Stadium.
On Thursday, Robert Primus' header, just after the hour mark, proved to be the difference as FCBU wrapped up the BDFA Super Division title. With 31 points from 12 games, they are mathematically out of reach for Bengaluru FC 'B' and Kickstart FC.
For FC Deccan, promoted ahead of this season, the plan was to defend first. They barely created opportunities going forward and their one chance came from a set-piece when Akhil P header went off target before the break. BUFC took time to settle but slowly grew into the game with Jaison Jordan Vaz forcing a save from the keeper following an acrobatic effort.
With a few clear cut chances to speak of in the first half, coach Richard Hood rang in the changes quickly and it paid dividends. The goal finally came with FCBU sustaining the attack from a corner and putting in a second cross which was headed in by Primus.
While there were chances for FCBU to increase the lead, a mixture of goal-line save and some great goalkeeping meant it was not to be.
Following a season that had the challenges of a pandemic and a brief suspension of the league - which caused a last minute change in fixture and advanced the final game by one day - coach Hood was happy to win silverware for his club.
"It will settle in by tomorrow because this game was last minute," said a smiling Hood. "All credit to the boys. From start to finish, just dropping four points, its a good achievement at this level," he said.
Having fallen short last season in their quest for I-League credentials, the focus is now on the 2nd Division league set to be held in July. The learnings from the previous experience is key feels the coach. The team will re-assemble in April and are looking to strengthen.
"From April we will work our attacks around Daniel Clive Carr (their new striker) and we will look for an Asian player who can give us a bit of attacking qualities. We will go after high profile Indians as well. We are looking for cohesion, we lacked that last season. This time from the start, the aim was to use everything leading to the 2nd Division league to build up our competitiveness. We have to keep an eye out for the other teams and who they are signing and the quality of foreigners. The mission is to get Bengaluru back into the I-league."
Results: FC Bengaluru United 1 (Robert Primus 61st) bt FC Deccan 0; Students Union FC 2 (Vignesh Srinivas 4th, Taiki Yesdida 25th) bt Bangalore Dream United FC 1 (Dorjee 29th).