Vasco: A fine brace of goals by Sunil Chetri guided Bengaluru FC to begin their campaign in style as they braved a stiff challenge from Salgaocar FC to script a 3-2 win in the opener of the 36th Hero Federation Cup at the Tilak Maidan here on Sunday.
All the goals came in the first half, with Bengaluru FC scoring 3 goals, 2 of which were made by Sunil Chhetri in the 25th and 40th minute and Sean Rooney in the 45th minute; while Salgaocar FC scored 2 goals, one each by Gurjinder Kumar in the 33nd minute and Douhou Pierre in the 41st minute.
In a hard fought first half battle, Chhetri just crowed the AIFF Player of the Year for the third time in four years, got the first goal of the tournament after Rooney’s shot from inside the box hit Pawan Kumar’s hand.
The referee pointed towards the spot and the Captain was at hand to place the ball just perfectly into the bottom right corner with India colleague Subrata Paul guessing right but to no avail.
But the I-League champions’ joy was short-lived as the local outfit pegged back after just seven minutes.
Gurjinder sent in a dipping free kick from almost 35 yards which bounced awkwardly for keeper Lalthuammanwia Ralte and bundled in.
Five minutes to halftime, the game picked up real pace with three goals scored in that period.
First it was the boys in blue who rode on a buccaneering run from Beikhokhei Beingaichho down the right flank to find Sunil who tapped it in from inside the box.
One minute later the green shirts drew level for the second time in the game as Douhou fired one in from the top of the box to bulge the net leaving keeper with no chance.
With four minutes to go on the clock BFC added their third.
Chhetri turned provider this time, setting up Rooney on the left with the Australian placing it to the keeper’s left.
And at halftime the score read 3-2. The second half saw tempers flaring between the two sides as BFC looked more content to sit on their one goal lead and Salgaocar tried to come back into the game from the third time. Chances were few and far post the breather, with the expected late rush from the trailing outfit, but the I-League champions stood firm and saw it through to register the first full points. Bengaluru FC play Mohun Bagan on Dec 30 while Salgaocar FC take on Shillong Lajong on new year’s eve. (UNI)
