Javi Hernandez scores two to give Bengaluru all three against FC Goa

Ravish Narvekar

The Gaurs lost the first match of the season at home.

Javi Hernandez scored in each half as Bengaluru FC down the host FC Goa by a 2-0 margin in the Indian Super League match played at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda today evening.

Aleksandar Jovanovic and Prabir Das were the two changes for the visiting side which lost to Mumbai City FC in the last match, while Gaurs gaffer Carlos Penna brought back Noah Sadaoui, whereas Princeton Rebello also made the start for them who outclassed ATK Mohun Bagan in their previous match.

The host should have taken the early lead in the very 2nd minute when Noah found himself in the commanding position but the Moroccan forward saw his strike blocked by Bengaluru keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The following few minutes saw FC Goa controlling the game with complete possession over the ball but Bengaluru's defence also made sure to keep every danger at the bay.

At the other end, Bengaluru’s Udanta Singh made a darting run and should have taken his side into the lead but Goa’s defender Anwar Ali made a timely interception to keep his side safe. A few minutes before this, they had another opportunity to take the lead when Roy Krishna was fed with a perfect cross from the left but the forward could not control his header from close as the ball went wide.

The next few minutes saw midfield play from both ends which ended in the 27th minute, as a perfect through pass from Krishna found Javi Hernandez in the box who without wasting any time blasted in the net to put Bengaluru ahead.

Down by a goal, Goa tried to get back with some series of attacks and in one of them, they were awarded a free-kick just outside the box. Skipper Brandon Fernandes' set-piece was cleared by a Bengaluru defender but it landed in the feet of Noah who saw his tossed strike punched away by Bengaluru keeper Sandhu. They had another free-kick in the dangerous area where Alvaro Vazquez nicely curled it to pass the wall but rival keeper and skipper Sandhu dived to his left to punch the danger away.

Bengaluru had an opportunity to double their lead in the added minutes of the session as Krishna found himself at the receiving end of a long pass who just had to beat the rival keeper Dheeraj Singh but the custodian came off his line to clear the danger. Dheeraj was lucky just to be booked.

The start of the second session saw some quick football from both ends, however, it was Bengaluru’s Krisha who had a chance to double their lead but his strike from just outside the box went into the waiting hands of Gaurs’ keeper Dheeraj.

However, the Blues managed to double their lead in the 57th minute when Udanta nicely chipped a cross to Hernandez who covered some ground before beating the FCG keeper Dheeraj from inside the box to make it 2-0 for his side.

Down by two goals, FCG gaffer Penna brought in Edu Bedia and Redeem Tlang replacing Princeton Rebello and Iker Guarrotxena to sharpen them in the attack but the duo could not make any changes to the scoreline.

They had the best chance to reduce the margin at the hour mark as Ayush Dev Chhetri found unmarked Noah in the box but the forward headed wide with just rival keeper Sandhu at his stake.

Bengaluru should have further inflated their lead in the 80th minute when Roy Krishan found the rival keeper Dheeraj out of his position and went for glory but his lobbed strike over the custodian hit the back of the side post.

At the other end, another chance came into the host’s way as this time Brandon curled the ball to Anwar Ali from the corner but the lad saw his header miss the target by a whisker.