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Bengaluru FC survived some needlessly anxious moments as they got their 35th Federation Cup campaign off to a winning start with a high-scoring 5-3 win over Sporting Clube de Goa at the MDSC Stadium, in Manjeri on Wednesday afternoon. The I-League leaders threw a dented a four-goal lead, conceding three in a seventeen-minute window before Robin Singh scored in the third minute of injury time to put the issue to bed.
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Ashley Westwood’s Blue Brigade couldn’t have asked for a better start when Beikhokhei Beingaichho smashed home Bengaluru FC’s opener in the 5th minute after Sporting Goa gaolkeeper Ravi Kumar fluffed a clearance. Under pressure from an onrushing Sean Rooney, Kumar could manage a meek touch of the ball on the edge of the box that fell kindly to Beingaichho. With an empty goal to shoot into, the diminutive winger couldn’t err.
The early lead worked as perfect reason for Bengaluru FC to boss the half and they did just that when skipper Sunil Chhetri added a second in the 33rd minute. John Menyongar had a hand in this one too when he picked out Rino Anto on the right with a long ball that the young defender brought down deftly before Chhetri packed his cross home. It was Chhetri’s turn to play provider next and he did it with brilliance. Exchanging a one-two with Sean Rooney, Chhetri chased the ball down the left and turned a Sporting Goa defender the wrong way before crossing and leaving Beikhokhei with the simple task of finishing clean.
Buoyed by the cushion, Westwood threw in Robin Singh and Vishal Kumar for Rooney and Keegan Pereira. The strong striker vindicated the decision when he scored the first of his two for the night in the 66th minute. Released down the left, Singh turned the onrushing ‘keeper and slotted into an empty net.
Only minutes earlier Sporting Goa missed the chance to pull one back when Boima Jerry Karpeh smashed his take from the spot against the bar after Vishal Kumar brought down Victorino Fernandes in the box. The error would come back to haunt the Goa side who went on to score three goals in the last twenty minutes to give Bengaluru FC a scare. Karpeh finished coolly from the left before substitutes Beevan D’Mello and Victorino took advantage of some lackadaisical defending to make it 4-3 with a minute of added time to play for. But Robin Singh made sure the regrets were none after being smartly set up by Darren Caldeira who came on for Thoi Singh in the second half. Running down the left, Caldeira foxed a defender and set up Singh who did well to slot home without fuss.
