Bengaluru FC drop points against Army Red

Kolkata : Bengaluru FC's new signing Suresh Wangjam converted from the spot in the 81st minute to help his side salvage a 1-1 draw against Army Red in the 129th Durand Cup here on Monday.

Playing with their reserve side, the Indian Super League champions struggled to cope with the energy-sapping humid conditions, failing to convert a flurry of chances as Army Red forward Liton Shil gave them the lead at the stroke of half time.

Bengaluru FC earned a penalty when defender Namgyal Bhutia was brought down in the rival box by substitute Alwin E. Suresh stepped up and calmly slotted the spot kick home to level scores in what was his first appearance in a Blue shirt.

"It's first match for me and I'm happy about the goal but I would have been much happier had we won the game," the Manipuri, who is a product of the AIFF Academy, told PTI.

The point meant Bengaluru FC moved up to second on the table behind leaders East Bengal (3 points) and ahead of Army Red (1 point) in Group A. They next face the city heavyweights in a do-or-die clash here on August 14.

"In Bengaluru it's pretty cold while it was very difficult to play an afteroon game with so much of heat and humidity. I don't want to give any excuse.

We will give everything to win our next match," he said. Naushad Moosa opted to start all of his seven first-team players with Aditya Patra in goal, Gursimrat Singh Gill, Sairuat Kima and Parag Shrivas in defence, Ajay Chhetri and Suresh Wangjam in the midfield and Edmund Lalrindika leading the attack.