15 Jan 2014 Goal.com Bengaluru FC fended off a late onslaught from Sporting Clube de Goa to win the opening encounter of Group B in the Federation Cup 5-3 at the MDS Complex in Manjeri on Wednesday evening. Beikhokhei Beingaichho (5', 41') and Robin Singh (66', 90+3') both scored twice while Sunil Chhetri (33') added another for Bengaluru while Boima Karpeh (74'), Beevan D'Mello (89') and Victorino Fernandes (90+2') were on the scoresheet for the Goan club. The Banglore outfit started on the front foot as Thoi Singh sent in a dangerous cross in the 2nd minute which Sean Rooney nearly connected with. It wasn't long before Ashley Westwood's men took the lead though as Beikhokhei Beingaichho scored in the fifth minute after a terrible blunder by Ravi Kumar in goal. The Sporting Goa custodian needlessly strayed off his line in an attempt to punch away John Menyongar's cross and the loose ball fell to Beikhokhei who smashed it home emphatically to put his side 1-0 up. Ten minutes later, Rooney almost got on the end of another cross, this time from Sunil Chhetri down the left, but again the delivery narrowly evaded him. In the 21st minute, Sporting finally showed signs of life as Boima Karpeh headed wide from Arturo Garcia's long ball. Bengaluru continued to enjoy the lion share of possession but Sporting had another sight of goal in the 26th minute as Rojen Singh's shot went agonizingly wide by after getting a deflection off Ogba Kalu. In the 33rd minute however, Bengaluru doubled their lead through their captain. After a few neat passes, Menyongar picked out Rino Anto whose precise delivery was headed in by Chhetri. Seven minutes later, Bengaluru extended their lead to 3-0 as Chhetri was involved again to set up Beikhokhei for his second of the game. The Indian international did brilliantly to execute a one-two with Rooney before racing onto the ball and laying it on a platter for Beikhokhei to thump in from close range once more and send his side cruising into the break. Four minutes into the second period, Sporting's Rojen Singh was in the thick of things once again as he dragged his effort wide after being played in by Pratesh Shirodkar. Then in the 57th minute, Sporting were offered a route back into the game as Victorino was awarded a penalty after being tripped by Vishal Kumar. However, Boima Karpeh's effort from the spot crashed off the crossbar. Robin Singh had replaced Rooney at the break and he combined well with Rino and Chhetri on the hour mark before shooting just wide. The striker only had to wait another six minutes though to get on the scoresheet as he sent the keeper the wrong way before passing the ball into an empty net to make it 4-0. Sporting finally pulled a goal back in the 74th minute through Karpeh. The striker slotted home from inside the box with a neat finish. Second half substitute Beevan D'Mello did well on the right but his cross evaded everyone in the 77th minute. Beevan then scored after being played in by Karpeh in the final minute of normal time to make it 4-2 and two minutes into stoppage time, Victorino scored to make it 4-3 as the Goans threatened to pull off a remarkable comeback. However, their optimism was short-lived as Robin Singh was set up beautifully by second half substitute Darren Caldeira in the third minute of stoppage time to put his side 5-3 ahead and settle the encounter. The result saw Bengaluru earn three vital points in the first game of Group B and even though Westwood won't be too please with the nervy goals they conceded late on, it was still a great advert for the Federation Cup.

• published: 16 Jan 2014
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