MARGAO: Bengaluru FC demolished and silenced Sporting Clube de Goa with an easy 3-0 victory in the second semi-final of 36th Hero Federation Cup, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Friday.
Bengaluru who had more of the exchanges scored through Sean Rooney (28th), Sunil Chhetri (38th) and Eugeneson Lyngdoh (87th).
Both the teams started cautiously as they tried to establish their supremacy. Bengaluru FC who came into this match unbeaten, played a composed game and moved the ball well.
Beikhokhei Beingaichho from the right sent in a couple of delightful crosses which rival keeper Ravi Kumar did well in collecting the ball.
First, he sent a high cross into the box for skipper Chhetri, who headed in the path of Rooney but the latter’s header was collected by keeper Ravi in the 14th minute.
A minute later, Ravi once again came with a diving save to deny Chhetri’s header.
Bengaluru kept on pressing hard and finally broke the deadlock in the 28th minute.
Chhetri came up with a swift move from the middle and passed the ball to Keegan Pereira and the latter raced into the box and sent in a low cross for Rooney, who slammed it from close.
Even before The Flaming Oranje could recover from the setback, the I-League champions increased the tally in the 38th minute.
This time Rooney turned provider as he set up his striking partner Chhetri inside the
box and the India international got the better of rival defender Chandrashekar Chinta and unleashed a scoring left-footer for his fifth goal to make him the joint top scorer along Dempo’s Tolgay Ozbey.
Victorino Fernandes worked hard upfront for Sporting Clube with long balls. They nearly scored but Kofi’s header off a Cajetan Fernandes delivery was saved on the goal line by Eugenson Lyngdoh.
After the change of ends, Bengaluru continued to dictate terms and nearly swelled the lead when a move from the right saw Rooney send in a cross which Chhetri missed to connect and the ball went to Joshua Walker, whose close ranger was blocked by the rival keeper.
Eugeneson Lyngdoh rounded off the tally as he coolly guided the ball after being set up by substitute striker Robin Singh.
