Vinith Venkatesh’s Match-Winning Goal Gives Bengaluru FC Winning Start
Five years ago, Vinith Venkatesh was a mere ballboy, witnessing Bengaluru FC’s Indian Super League campaign from the sidelines. On Saturday, he etched his name into the club’s history, scoring the match-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over East Bengal FC.
Making his debut at the iconic Sree Kanteerava Stadium, the 19-year-old Venkatesh emerged as the hero. In the 25th minute, Edgar Mendez’s pinpoint assist found an unmarked Venkatesh inside the box. With a deft first touch and a powerful low strike to the far post, he sent the home crowd into raptures.
Senior statesman Sunil Chhetri, a veteran of Indian football, rushed to celebrate with the local lad. Venkatesh, who joined the club academy at the tender age of eight, had come full circle.
The match was a scrappy affair, with nearly 12,000 spectators witnessing a physical and cynical encounter. Six players received yellow cards, while East Bengal’s Lalchungnunga was sent off for a second booking. Tempers flared at times, forcing referee Crystal John to intervene.
East Bengal remained in the hunt for an equalizer, pressing forward with intent. Their best chance came late when substitute Cleiton Silva fired over the crossbar from close range. In the first half, Jeakson Singh tried his luck from long range, but Bengaluru FC goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh was up to the task.
Mendez, making his BFC debut, nearly got on the scoresheet with a crisp shot that narrowly missed the target. A few minutes later, Mendez and Venkatesh combined to ensure that Bengaluru FC started its ISL season on a winning note.
The result: Bengaluru FC 1 (Venkatesh 25) bt East Bengal FC 0.