<p>Bengaluru: Coach Manolo Marquez had become a taboo in Bengaluru over the last five years but the hoodoo surrounding him was crushed when Bengaluru FC beat FC Goa to take a 2-0 lead in the home leg of the Indian Super League semifinal here at the Sree Kanteerava stadium on Wednesday. </p><p>Bengaluru finally broke the five-year, 10-game jinx in front of a packed, trumpet-blowing, drums-beating 19,223-strong stadium. </p><p>The hosts started on a fiery note and continued to press forward in hopes of carving out goal-scoring opportunities. </p><p>The constant pressure paid off in the 42nd minute when FC Goa went behind after Sandesh Jhingan put the ball into his own net from a curled Mendez ball. </p><p>Seven minutes into the second half, Namgyal Bhutia, racing through the right, floated a ball into the box that was picked out by the on-song Mendez, who finished it fiercely past the goalkeeper to double the Blues’ lead. </p><p>Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza made just one change to the starting XI that dispatched Mumbai City FC 5-0, with Vineet Venkatesh making way for Sivasakthi Narayanan. </p><p>The cool-headed Alberto Noguera played a beautiful ball into the box but failed to find Mendez that left Bengaluru frustrated. </p><p>However, the momentum seemed to be with the hosts and was then converted to a forward movement as Hrithik Tiwari produced a save to deny Pedro Capo moments before the Spaniard headed it to the right of the keeper when unmarked in front of goal. </p><p>Williams should have put Bengaluru out of sight when served by a beauty with just the keeper to beat but was unable to beat Hrithik. </p><p>After doubling their lead, Zaragoza substituted in Sunil Chhetri and Pereyra Diaz for Sivasakti and Mendez. </p><p>A slightly frustrated-looking Marquez also introduced his subs -- Dejan Drazic, Ayush Dev Chhetri and Armando Sadiku. </p><p>The visitors started to push forward but Bengaluru, with captain Rahul Bheke with his usual calming influence gradually began to exert some serious authority.</p><p>Eventually, Zaragoza’s side showed the clinical edge that allowed them to take a crucial 2-0 lead and will now fly to Fatorda hoping to make the ISL final. The second leg of the semifinal will be played in Goa on April 6</p><p>Results: Bengaluru FC: 2 (Sandesh Jhingan 42nd OG, Edgar Mendez 52nd) bt FC Goa: 0.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Coach Manolo Marquez had become a taboo in Bengaluru over the last five years but the hoodoo surrounding him was crushed when Bengaluru FC beat FC Goa to take a 2-0 lead in the home leg of the Indian Super League semifinal here at the Sree Kanteerava stadium on Wednesday. </p><p>Bengaluru finally broke the five-year, 10-game jinx in front of a packed, trumpet-blowing, drums-beating 19,223-strong stadium. </p><p>The hosts started on a fiery note and continued to press forward in hopes of carving out goal-scoring opportunities. </p><p>The constant pressure paid off in the 42nd minute when FC Goa went behind after Sandesh Jhingan put the ball into his own net from a curled Mendez ball. </p><p>Seven minutes into the second half, Namgyal Bhutia, racing through the right, floated a ball into the box that was picked out by the on-song Mendez, who finished it fiercely past the goalkeeper to double the Blues’ lead. </p><p>Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza made just one change to the starting XI that dispatched Mumbai City FC 5-0, with Vineet Venkatesh making way for Sivasakthi Narayanan. </p><p>The cool-headed Alberto Noguera played a beautiful ball into the box but failed to find Mendez that left Bengaluru frustrated. </p><p>However, the momentum seemed to be with the hosts and was then converted to a forward movement as Hrithik Tiwari produced a save to deny Pedro Capo moments before the Spaniard headed it to the right of the keeper when unmarked in front of goal. </p><p>Williams should have put Bengaluru out of sight when served by a beauty with just the keeper to beat but was unable to beat Hrithik. </p><p>After doubling their lead, Zaragoza substituted in Sunil Chhetri and Pereyra Diaz for Sivasakti and Mendez. </p><p>A slightly frustrated-looking Marquez also introduced his subs -- Dejan Drazic, Ayush Dev Chhetri and Armando Sadiku. </p><p>The visitors started to push forward but Bengaluru, with captain Rahul Bheke with his usual calming influence gradually began to exert some serious authority.</p><p>Eventually, Zaragoza’s side showed the clinical edge that allowed them to take a crucial 2-0 lead and will now fly to Fatorda hoping to make the ISL final. The second leg of the semifinal will be played in Goa on April 6</p><p>Results: Bengaluru FC: 2 (Sandesh Jhingan 42nd OG, Edgar Mendez 52nd) bt FC Goa: 0.</p>