I-League 3: Bengaluru’s Kickstart FC qualify for playoffs as group toppers

Bengaluru: Ngairangbam Rakesh Singh fired a brace in Kickstart FC’s crucial 2-1 victory over Zinc Football Academy that eventually took them into the playoffs of the I-League 3 in Mapusa, Goa on Monday.After Karma Thendup Bhutia gave Udaipur’s Zinc the lead in the 18th minute in a morning kick-off at the Duler Football Stadium, Rakesh helped the Bengaluru-based side recover with goals on either side of the break, with the winning goal coming in the 83rd minute after the equaliser in the 28th minute.With the two goals, the former FC Bengaluru United forward also became the joint top-scorer of the season with five goals.Kickstart FC had to wait until evening for the confirmation of their qualification as group topper with Pune’s GOG FCC stunning in-form hosts Salgaocar FC 2-1 in the final group match at the same venue. That match was also decided as late as the 82nd minute with Rahul Rawat netting the winner.I-League 3: Kickstart FC bounce back with 5-1 demolition of R T BoysThe result dropped Salgaocar FC (+5) to second spot on goal difference while being locked on nine points with Kickstart (+6) after four matches each. Kickstart’s earlier 5-1 rout of bottom-placed RT Boys FC  (1 pt) proved decisive after the Raghu Kumar M-coached side lost their opening game 1-0 to the group hosts.Salgaocar, however, also made it to the playoffs as the best runners-up, with the two Group D clubs joining NEROCA FC, Garhwal Heroes FC, Nongkseh S&CC and Godavari FC in the final stage.The six clubs will face off in a round-robin format at a centralised venue with the top two gaining I-League 2 promotion.While the dates and venue for the playoffs are yet to be finalised, Manipur’s Imphal, which also hosted the playoffs last year, is being considered with the matches slated from November last week or the first week of December.

Source: Deccan Herald