Photo courtesy: Bengaluru FC
Bengaluru FC booked a spot in the semifinals of the DSK Cup with a 3-1 win over Salgaocar FC at the DSK Dream City Football Ground, in Pune, on Wednesday. Beikhokhei Beingaichho and Alwyn George sent the Blues into a 2-0 first half lead before James Fernandes pulled one back for the Goa side. Kim Song Yong scored his fifth goal of the tournament to secure victory for the Blues, who will face DSK Shivajians A in the semifinals on Friday.
The Blues shot into an early lead with Beingaichho scoring his second goal of the tournament with a curling effort from the edge of the area that bulged the net past a diving Bruno Colaco in the Salgaocar goal.
A midfield battle ensued with both sides fighting hard for possession but it was the Blues who made the most of it with Alwyn heading home after some good work down the right flank by Blues defender NS Manju. Dribbling past two Salgaocar players, Manju sent in a curler that found the head of Alwyn, who made no mistake to double Bengaluru’s advantage at the stroke of half-time.
Salgaocar halved the deficit early in the second half with James Fernandes’ cross beating everyone in the box to sneak its way into the far post past a hapless Sharath in the BFC goal. Bengaluru, however, responded well, with shots from Manju and Alwyn inches off target.
Kim Song Yong restored Bengaluru’s two-goal lead in the 68th minute, collecting a through pass from Alwyn before slotting past a charging Colaco to make it 3-1. Clifton Dias came close to scoring Salgaocar’s second with an effort that rattled the Bengaluru woodwork but the Blues defence stood solid as they protected the lead and advanced to the last four of the tournament.