Bengaluru, February 9: Bengaluru FC sealed a spot for themselves in the semi-finals of the Indian Super League by pulling off a 2-0 win over FC Goa at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Friday (February 9).
Edu Garcia and Dimas Delgado scored on either side of the break to secure three points for Bengaluru FC, which took them to 33 points in 15 games on top of the table. They are eight off second-placed FC Pune City and cannot drop below the top four even if they lose their remaining three games. The Goans, on the other hand, remain sixth with 20 points in 13 games, but are within touching distance of the top four.
Bengaluru FC worked around their set-pieces, knowing they would find few opportunities coming their way. They had different routines for each corner-kicks and pegged Goa back in the 35th minute with a neatly-worked flag-kick.
Delgado provided a dummy and Toni Dovale curled it in with his left. The Goan defenders were nowhere around Garcia. The Spaniard looped his header into the top left corner and even though Goa captain Bruno Pinheiro was stationed there, the ball flew over him and into the net.
Goa, with seven corners and a couple of free-kicks in the game, never came close to scoring off a set-piece.
Delgado scored BFC's second goal of the night in the 83rd minute. Poking the Goan defence at the edge of the box, Dovale happened to head the ball in the way of Delgado after substitute Boithang Haokip's shot was blocked. Delgado, who was kept onside by Goa's Seriton Fernandes, tucked it into the bottom right.
While it was Garcia's second goal in the ISL, after his initial one against Mumbai City FC, Delgado got his maiden ISL strike for BFC.
Edu Garcia, after scoring Bengaluru FC's first ever ISL goal - against Mumbai City FC, found the net for the second time this campaign (Image: ISL Media)
Bengaluru FC players celebrate after Edu Garcia put them ahead (Image: ISL Media)
Garcia's header flew over Bruno Pinheiro (Image: ISL Media)
Dimas Delgado with Bengaluru FC's second of the night. It was his first ISL goal.
Faced with an attacking side in Goa, Bengaluru FC came into the game ready with a plan. Bengaluru FC coach Albert Roca played the cards close to his chest by making as many as six changes from their previous match against Chennaiyin FC. They are anyway scheduled to play three matches in the next 11 days.
Defender Nishu Kumar got his second start in the ISL, coming in place of Harmanjot Khabra. Miku was rested for an extra midfielder in Toni Dovale. Erik Paartalu was benched and his spot was taken by Indian Semboi Haokip (Thongkhosiem Haokip), a former FC Goa forward.
Goa, who have never maintained a clean sheet this season, shuffled their goalkeepers with Naveen Kumar filling in for Laxmikant Kattimani. Although Naveen put in a decent performance, the Goan defenders let their team down with a pitiable show.
Bengaluru FC were sluggish at the start of both sessions. Manvir Singh, the FC Goa attacker, had a shot in the 10th minute - a left-footed curler, which was saved by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
But their precision was poor compared to the hosts. Lanzarote could have pulled one back in the 87th minute, but BFC goalkeeper Gurpreet had his region covered. Another left-footed take from Lanzarote forced a double-handed block by Gurpreet in the 19th minute.
Four minutes after BFC took the lead, Naveen Kumar's clearance was intercepted by Garcia and Semboi Haokip pounced on the loose ball only to shoot right at the goalkeeper.
Semboi Haokip could have put BFC ahead in the 24th minute itself. Nishu Kumar ran around the defender and squared it back to Semboi Haokip at the centre, whose flick towards goal was saved by Naveen Kumar.
But the pressure is building on Goa as they succumbed to defeat in what was the fourth match that neither Ferran Corominas nor Manuel Lanzarote found the back of the net.
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