By Joseph Solomon,

AIFF Media Team

CUTTACK: JSW Bengaluru FC proved too good for Shillong Lajong and took off to a flying start in the 38^th edition of the ongoing Hero Federation Cup after Alberto Roca’s men defeated Lajong 3-2 in a tight encounter at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha today (May 08, 2017).

Strikes by Udanta Singh (35’) ,Eugeneson Lyngdoh (46’) and an own goal by skipper Aibrolang Khongjee proved enough for the Blues to register their first win of the Hero Federation Cup, after Yuta Kinowaki and Samuel Lalmuanpuia had found the net in the 72^nd minute and 84^th minute respectively for Lajong. Dipanda Dicka had missed a penalty for Lajong in the 71^st minute.

Bengaluru FC however, suffered a nervy start to their Hero Federation Cup opener as opponents Shillong Lajong attacked from the whistle and Dipanda Dicka’s shot in the first minute itself came close to stealing the lead.

The Blues however recouped from the nervous opening and Sandesh Jhingan’s 2^nd minute header which rattled the bar gave a testament of Bengaluru FC’s attacking intent. Roca’s men dominated possession and Harmanjot Khabra and Udanta Singh proved to be a handful for Lajong’s defence, running circles around them every now and then.

In the 33^rd minute BFC fostered perhaps the best scoring chance of the match as Udanta was released onto goal by skipper Sunil Chhetri. Udanta’s shot however went wide of the goal after Kaith had come out of his lines.

Two minutes later, Udanta exorcised his demons as his shot from distance took a wicked deflection and looped in the Lajong net to hand BFC the lead as the half-time scoreline read 1-0.

Eugeneson Lyngdoh doubled Bengaluru FC’s lead in the 46^th minute when he timed his run to perfection to head home a Harmanjot Khabra cross from the right flank.

The Blues piled pressure on Thangboi Singto’s men and in the 60^th minute Sandesh Jhingan’s header from a corner kick was kept out of the goal by the Lajong defence line after Vishal Kaith had come out off his lines.

Lajong were given a penalty in the 71^st minute which Dipanda Dicka shot way over the goal but Yuta Kinowaki slotted the ball home from a tight corner to reduce their deficit and to make the scoreline read 2-1 in the 72^nd minute.

However, disaster struck for the Lajong defence two minutes later when Aiborlang Khongjee bundled the ball into his own net, doubling Bengaluru FC’s lead yet again. Thangboi Singto’s men were awarded a penalty again in the 84^th minute and this time Samuel Lalmuanpuia scored to make the scoreline read 3-2.

The Blues held on to a goal’s advantage and saw off the match to record their first win of the Hero Federation Cup as the full-time scoreline read 3-2 in their favour.