Bengaluru FC (BFC) emerged a deserving 4-1 winner over a stuttering Sporting Clube de Goa in an I-League encounter at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Tuesday.
The home team’s superior eye for goal made all the difference.
Sporting Clube, on the other hand, panicked nearly every time it was presented with a chance to score. The Goans made numerous forays deep into the BFC box, but seemed oddly reluctant to pull the trigger.
The visiting attackers — led by the imposing Odafa Okolie — found holes in the BFC defence, but the final touch lacked conviction.
With this win, BFC sits in second-place with 20 points from 11 matches. Royal Wahingdoh is tied on points, but BFC holds the edge through a better head-to-head record.
Mohun Bagan stays on top of the ladder with 21 points after nine fixtures.
BFC took the lead through a header from Joshua Walker, who timed his jump just right to receive a free-kick from Eugeneson Lyngdoh.
Early in the second-half, BFC captain Sunil Chhetri’s long-ball released Sean Rooney on the flank. The Australian rushed forward and took the defender with him, all the while awaiting support up front.
Help came from Rino Anto, and a layoff pass from Rooney was slotted in.
A defensive lapse from Velito da Cruz gave BFC its third goal, before Beikhokhei Bengaichho’s strike put the match to bed.
Sporting Clube’s Victorino Fernandes found the net seven minutes to full-time, but this did little to affect the final result.
The result: Bengaluru FC 4 (Joshua Walker 33, Rino Anto 51, Thoi Singh 60, Beikhokhei Bengaichho 80) bt Sporting Clube de Goa 1 (Victorino Fernandes 83).
At Shillong: Royal Wahingdoh 1 (Godwin Franco 30) bt East Bengal 0.
