Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shillong: Bengaluru FC ended their run of winless matches in style as the defending I-League champions hammered early-season table-toppers Royal Wahingdoh 4-0 in their final domestic fixture prior to Wednesday’s AFC Champions League 2015 Preliminary Round 1 match with Johor Darul Ta’zim.
Bengaluru went into Saturday’s match in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium having not won since lifting the Federation Cup three weeks ago, with the victory over Dempo being followed by defeats to East Bengal (1-0) and Pune (3-1) after opening their title defence with a goalless draw against Dempo.
In contrast, last year’s 2nd Division champions had begun their first season in India’s top flight in impressive fashion with victories over neighbours Shillong Lajong (2-1), Salgaocar (1-0) and Bharat FC (1-0) before seeing their run ended in Round 4 by the AFC Champions League aspirants.
C.K. Vineeth headed home the opener in the 34th minute with his first goal for Bengaluru before former Shillong midfielder Eugeneson Lyndoh doubled the visitors’ advantage on the hour mark with some superb control and a calm finish.
Seven minutes later Thoi Singh made it 3-0 before the 24-year-old sealed the win with his second with 12 minutes remaining as Bengaluru enjoyed a massive boost of confidence ahead of their forthcoming trip to Malaysia.
Bengaluru, who were only formed in 2013, will be looking to continue their rapid rise by taking a step closer to a first appearance in Asia’s premier club competition with victory over JDT in the first stage of the playoffs.
The winners of the intriguing encounter between the league champions of India and Malaysia will advance to Preliminary Round 2 where they will face Bangkok Glass in Thailand six days later. China's Beijing Guoan await the victorious side in the Playoff on February 17, with a coveted place in the 2015 AFC Champions League Group Stage up for grabs.