Bengaluru ease past Bharat

Pune, Apr 25: Bengaluru FC joined Mohun Bagan at the top of the I-League table after defeating Bharat FC 2-0 at the Balewadi Stadium on Friday.

Goals from Eugeneson Lyngdoh (29th minute) and C K Vineeth (55th) scripted the victory for the defending champions, who are on 28 points, the same as Bagan. However, BFC have played two games more than the Kolkata club, who have played 13 matches.

The Blues, who had defeated Pune FC in their previous match, came up with a fine performance on the day. Lyngdoh’s strike in the 29th minute came when Sean Rooney intercepted a poor pass from Surajit Bose before teeing up the ball for the midfielder, who placed a peach of a strike past goalkeeper Shahinlal Meloli from 20 yards out. Lyngdoh had struck a similar goal when Bharat FC visited Bengaluru earlier in the league.

BFC coach Ashley Westwood retained the eleven that took the field against Pune FC on Tuesday while Robin Singh was on the bench after serving a one-game suspension. Bharat, meanwhile, had a string of absentees owing to a combination of suspensions, injuries and a family emergency. But despite the goal, the first half was an absorbing one where possession and attacks swapped hands swiftly.

However, post the break, it was a different tale.

Ten minutes into the second half, Bengaluru struck again when Vineeth scored his second goal in as many games. Receiving the ball on the left, Rooney made a run before passing to Lyngdoh inside the box. Skipping the option to shoot, Lyngdoh squared the ball to Vineeth who drew Meloli out before turning and placing his shot calmly, making it 2-0.

With a two-goal cushion and Bengaluru completely in control, Westwood pulled out his scorers within a few minutes after the hour mark, replacing Lyngdoh and Vineeth with Robin and Sunil Chhetri. The changes added a fresh thrust to Bengaluru’s attacks and Robin came close to grabbing a brace of headers.

Bengaluru next travel to Maldives where they take on Maziya S&RC in the AFC Cup on Tuesday. A win would send them to the pre-quarterfinals.

Pune play Bagan

Pune FC will be eager to end their home campaign on a high when they host Bagan on Saturday.

The game will be a crucial one for Pune FC after back-to-back losses in the last two home games and they will be hoping to shrug off the disappointing run and seal their fifth home win of the season.

The encounter will also be the fourth time the sides have faced off this season, with each team winning one match and the other one ending in a draw.