Chhetri nets brace again as BFC beat Churchill

Sunil Chhetri bagged a brace as Bengaluru FC scored a deserving 3-1 win over defending champions Churchill Brothers to open a gap at the top over Pune FC in an Airtel I-League match at Duler Stadium here on Friday.

After a barren first half, the visitors scored through Sean Rooney (50th min) before Chhetri (64th, 77th) heaped further misery on the defending champions.

Churchill Brothers pulled one back through substitute Balwant Singh in the 74th minute but it was too little too late.

The victory allowed BFC to move to 24 points from 12 games – a gap of five points over second place Pune, who face Mumbai FC on Saturday.

Churchill remained rooted at the bottom with seven points from 11 games.

In the day’s other matches, Shillong Lajong edged past Salgaocar 2-1, while Mohun Bagan thumped United SC 4-0.

After Seikhohao Tuboi opened the scoring for Lajong in the 22nd minute, Singam Subash Singh further extended the lead for the home side in the 37th minute. Darryl Duffy pulled one back for the Goan outfit in the 52nd minute but Shillong hung on.

Two first-half goals from Christopher Chizoba (20th and 45+1) set Mohun Bagan on their way to an easy victory before Ram Malik (51st) and Odafa Onyeka Okolie (73rd) made sure of the points.

Bengaluru FC’s next match is also away from home against Mohammedan Sporting on December 11.