BENGALURU: Bengaluru FC registered a thumping 3-1 win against East Bengal tonight to get one step closer towards their second Hero I-League silverware in three years.
Both teams missed their mainstay in the central defence in the likes of John Johnson and Arnab Mondal. Side back Keegan Pereira filled in Johnson’s shoes and French international Bernard Mendy dropped back to deep defence to pair with Bello Rasaq.
Bengaluru took the first bite at the cherry in the second minute when Eugenson’s free kick looped in ominously on the top of Kingfisher East Bengal’s goal, missing the target by a few inches.
The visitors took the lead from a surprise goal on the half-hour mark via Do Dong-Hyun. As the U22 player Malsawmzuala lost the control of the ball on the half-line, Do Dong sneaked in and placed the ball neatly at the back of the net.
Perhaps Bengaluru FC needed this kick to make a come back into the game. Within two minutes, they equalized from an excellent attacking move, and this time the red & Golds defense was caught napping. North Korean striker Kim Song Yong collected the ball from the right flank, and dispatches for Eugenson Lyngdoh, who heads home in perfection.
The players headed to the dressing room with the scoreline read as 1-1.
After the lemon break, The other side of the half witnessed some urgency from the visitors, Amrinder was tested by Do Dong and Ranti Martines on a few occasions.
However, much to their horror, the hosts pumped two goals in quick succession. Kim Song Yong finally got his scoring boot on, an inch-perfect cross from Eugeneson from the left in the 64th minute found the lanky striker who did no mistake to go on to score his fifth goal in his first season of Hero I-League.
Minutes later the Blues pumped in another goal, much to the mistake by Kingfisher East Bengal goalie Rehenesh TP. A powerful long ranger from Malsawmzuala tried his luck from 25 yards out and Rehenesh could not parry it safely, to add many woes to his team.
Bengaluru FC, who already started to sense their third victory in six face-offs with the Red & Golds, saw off the last minutes cautiously.
With the momentary win, Bengaluru FC leapfrogged defending champions Mohun Bagan to the top of the table with 29 points from 14 matches whereas Kingfisher East Bengal are placed third with 24 points playing same number.
