JOIN USBFC outclass Lajong for third victory
It had everything that a dominating performance demands. A first minute goal, an attacking onslaught, a rock solid defensive show and a tireless crowd backing as Bengaluru FC dished out another fine show to humble Shillong Lajong 3-0 in their I-League tie here on Sunday.
The Ashley Westwood coached side were led by goals from Kim Song Yong (36th and 60th minutes) and CK Vineeth (first minute) as they maintained their all-win record in the league to stay on pole position with nine points.
Lajong meanwhile had to endure their first loss of the league and are placed in eighth spot with just a point to their name.
Playing his first game on home ground, the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, the North Korean import Kim hardly showed any signs of nerves as, in the opening minute, he comfortably controlled an aerial ball in the opposition box to find his team-mate Alwyn George. Though Alwyn was unlucky to get a clear hit at the target, Vineeth ensured that he was at the right place at the right time to net in from the ricochet to give Bengaluru a dream start.
Shredded into pieces by the opposition’s pacy wingers, Lajong simply had no clue about Bengaluru’s swift ‘pass and move game’. And one such move resulted in the visitors conceding the second goal. Found at the other end of a delightful Curtis Osano pass, Vineeth set up an onrushing Alwyn inside the penalty area. Though the Lajong keeper Vishal Kahit parried away the initial attempt from the former Dempo man, he had no answers to the next one as Kim pounced on the rebound to make it 2-0 for the home side.
Though restricted to limited possession in the game, Lajong did try to mount a challenge in phases. Their most experienced player, Penn Orji, was also the most effective one. The Nigerian midfielder combined well with striker Fabio Pena as the two tried to break down a resolute Bengaluru defence.
But apart from a handful of attempts from distance and a Bipin Singh volley that skied over the cross bar, the Thangboi Singto-side had nothing to cheer about as the home team ran riot on a night that saw close to 12,000 spectators witness a good game.
While the first two goals resulted out of defensive lapses by the Lajong backline, the third one by the former champions was class apart as they dissected the Lajong defence with ease to find the back of the net.
Enjoying good possession in the middle of the park, midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh had no trouble in sending in a daring ball into the box as an unmarked Kim smartly latched on the ball and slotted it past the Lajong keeper to sign off his first home assignment with a brace.