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Bengaluru FC’s reserves moved a step closer to qualifying for the National Championship in the RF Development League, as they brushed FC Goa aside in a 4-1 win at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Friday.
A stunning first-half hat-trick (17′, 28′ pen,43′) from Thoi Singh followed by a late goal from Akashdeep Singh (79′) helped the Blue Colts seal the three points in a commanding display in their penultimate National Group stage encounter.
Ahead of the game, Bengaluru FC head coach Kaizad Ambapardiwala made two changes from the previous game against Sreenidhi Deccan FC, as Thoi and Shreyas Ketkar returned to the lineup.
The former set the tone for the rest of the game after scoring his fifth goal of the campaign in the 17th minute. Monirul Molla set the winger through on goal before Thoi buried his attempt past FC Goa keeper Hrithik Tiwari. Just before the half hour mark, Blue Colts’ midfielder Shighil NS was brought down in the box by Aditya Salgaonkar, forcing referee Suresh Devaraj to point to the spot. Up stepped Thoi, whose spot kick flew past Tiwari’s outstretched arms, despite the Gaurs’ custodian diving the right way.
Deggie Cardozo’s side pulled one back in the 40th minute, when Nikhil Prabhu’s header from a set piece ricocheted off the crossbar, before rebounding off Sharon Padattil’s back and into the net.
But Thoi wrapped up his hat-trick a few minutes before the break and put the game effectively beyond the reach of Goa, when Monirul powered his way past two defenders into the box and sent in a low cross for Thoi to tap home from at the far post.
The second period did not see the same number of chances and intensity as the first, but the Blue Colts had one last goal left in them, 10 minutes from time, as Akashdeep pounced on a tame back pass from Rayan Menezes and scored to bring up Bengaluru FC’s fourth of the game. As a result of the big win, Ambapardiwala’s side moved to the top of the standings in the Bengaluru group in the National Group Stage.
Bengaluru FC will play Kerala Blasters in their final National Group Stage at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Monday, where a win or draw would see them qualify for the PL Next Gen Cup and the National Championship round.
