ISL semifinals | Bengaluru holds the aces over Goa after a thumping win in the first leg

Stellar show: BFC took a giant step towards reaching the final.
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K

Bengaluru FC outclassed FC Goa 2-0 in the first leg of their ISL semifinal here on Wednesday.

In front of nearly 20,000 spectators at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, an own goal from Sandesh Jhingan and a clean hit from Edgar Mendez allowed BFC to take a giant step towards reaching the final.

The scrappy encounter saw the home team take the lead just before half-time, when Jhingan failed to safely clear a cross.

Manning the near post, the defender was under pressure from Ryan Williams, resulting in a header into his own net.

Williams nearly doubled the lead in quick time, when a through ball from Suresh Wangjam left him unmarked.

A weak side-footed shot, however, was dealt with ease by FCG goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari.

Williams made up for the lapse in the second half, finding Namgyal Bhutia with a perfectly weighted pass. Bhutia, with all the space in the world, sent the ball into the box. Spanish forward Mendez lay in wait, and found the side netting with a crisp strike.

It was a disappointing outing for FCG. The visitor won the possession battle, but did little else of note.

BFC team celebrates after winning the first leg against FC Goa.
| Photo Credit:
MURALI KUMAR K

Crosses galore

There were inviting crosses galore, but no willing teammates at the receiving end.

BFC goalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu was left with little or nothing to do, as strike after strike sailed far and wide.

Entering the second leg of the semifinal, which will be held in Goa on Sunday, BFC holds all the aces.

The result: BFC 2 (Sandesh Jhingan-og 42, Edgar Mendez 51) bt FCG 0.