Bengaluru/Goa: Star striker C K Vineeth’s hat-trick helped defending champions Bengaluru FC trounce Mumbai FC 3-0 in a third round match of the I-League at Sree Kanteerava stadium here on Wednesday.
With this win, Bengaluru are now perched at the top of the points table with nine points from three matches.
Vineeth struck in the 45th, 57th and 65th minutes in a match dominated by the home side for most part. The Kerala striker smashed home his first goal as he found himself unmarked after Cameron Watson crossed the ball straight to him.
For his second goal, Vineeth calmly slotted the ball home from point blank range after Harmanjot Singh Khabra played a beautiful cross. It was actually Udanta Singh who created the chance by first giving a pass to Khabra.
Before Sandesh Jhingan came in for Khabra, the full right back once again came into the act. Vineeth, for the third time, got a beautiful through ball from Khabra and he took a lovely first touch to calmly place the ball to the left of the keeper, leaving him no chance.
Vineeth missed his fourth goal of the match after his shot came off a Mumbai defender after Nishu Kumar played a good cross in 79th minute.
As usual, Bengaluru began their match giving stress on ball possession and made several forays into the rival citadel, but to no avail as Mumbai were equally good at dealing with the regular onslaughts.
Bengaluru had a golden opportunity to go one up in the 27th minute as Vineeth took a shy with his left first time but it flew over after Sunil Chhetri delicately slided one in for him.
Mumbai must be disappointed to have conceded right at the dying moments of the first half, though they played pretty well.
The Bengaluru defence looked absolutely solid in the past two games and did the same on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Churchill Brothers FC Goa suffered their third straight defeat in the ongoing Hero I-League as Kingfisher East Bengal cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win at the Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Wednesday.
A headed goal from ‘Semboi’ Haokip and a direct corner goal from skipper Lalrindika Ralte in the first half sealed all three points for the Red and Gold brigade. Both sides began with a sense of urgency and were in an attacking mode from the first whistle.
Tackles were flying in and East Bengal suffered an early blow when they had to replace defender Anwar Ali in the third minute of the match. The central defender appeared to injure himself while attempting a diving clearance. Ali had to be replaced by Gurwinder Singh. That didn’t stop Trevor Morgan’s men as East Bengal continued in their attacking vein with forward Willis Plaza coming close on two occasions early on. (PTI)
