Johnson heads BFC to the top

Bengaluru: On a day when tempers flew high and competitive spirit was at its pinnacle, John Johnson's fourth minute header proved the difference as Bengaluru Football Club edged out United Sports Club 1-0 in an entertaining and feisty encounter at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Sunday. With the win, Bengaluru F.C vaulted to the top of the table. Ashley Westwood named an unchanged side from last week's victory and the Bengaluru based club started the match in the best possible manner with a goal even before many of the fans had taken their seat. A lofted corner from Beikhokhei Beingaichho was met at the far post with a towering header by Johnson to put his side ahead and drive the fans into a frenzy. The English defender wheeled away tugging at his jersey collar as he celebrated his second goal in successive games. The centre-back adjudged the man of the match, was a class apart throughout as he marshaled his defense with authority. The match carried on at a brisk pace with United S.C. pushing hard for the equaliser and were almost rewarded for their efforts when Ranti Martins' glancing header was cleared off the line by Keegan Perreira following a corner in the 19th minute. United S.C continued their search after the break, but it was the Men in Blue who almost came up with a goal when Sean Rooney glanced wide a free header inside the six-yard box off a wonderfully shaped cross from left-back Perreira in the 47th minute. With the lead intact Westwood’s boys switched to a more defensive approach as they stood firm against waves of United attack suffocating their opposition for space while attacking with pace on the break. United's day went from bad to worse in the 80th minute when their coach Elco Schattorie was banished from the touchline following extended protests and had to move out of his technical area much to the delight of the home fans who cheered the referee's decision with great enthusiasm. “We were lacking in fitness,“ said a frustrated Schattorie. “The fourth official wanted to go home and tell his wife that he sent off the coach,“ snapped the Dutch tactician expressing his disgust at being sent off. Meanwhile, BFC coach Westwood was satisfied with the performance while remarking that John's aerial ability, while being an asset was not the be-all and end-all of his Bengalurubased team. The positive result in the top of the table clash is sure to put the team on a high as the Men of Steel look to take on Mohammedan Sporting on Thursday .RESULTS Salgoacar 3 (D. Duffy 43, C. Gnakpa 48, Augustin Fernandes) bt Mohammedan 0; Bengaluru F.C 1 (John Johnson 4) bt United S.C 0