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Pune: Shankar Sampingiraj scored the fastest goal in the club’s history, tapping home on 14 seconds – as a clinical Bengaluru FC dismantled Pune FC 0-2 at the Balewadi Stadium, in Pune on Tuesday. The win that also had a scorcher of a finish from CK Vineeth a minute before half time sent Bengaluru FC to third on the table with 25 points, one behind Royal Wahingdoh who have played a game more than the Blues. Victory on the night also marked Bengaluru’s first win in Pune in the League.
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The dust hadn’t even settled on kick-off when Bengaluru shocked the hosts with a goal on 14 seconds. Handed a start by the gaffer ahead of Sunil Chhetri, CK Vineeth wasted no time in vindicating the choice. The nippy winger charged and dispossessed Anas Edathodika before cutting the ball back for Lyngdoh whose cross Shankar met with the calmest of tap ins.
Not satisfied with playing just a hand in Bengaluru’s opener, Vineeth went one better and scored a scorcher of a goal a minute from half time. Picking the ball up after some smart pressing from Sean Rooney gave the Blues possession, Vineeth exchanged a quick one-two with Beikhokhei Beingaichho before smashing home a shot that ’keeper Amrinder Singh could do absolutely nothing about as it took a bit of the bar on its way in.
Lyngdoh had one of the better chances in the second half when, just a little beyond the hour mark, he ghosted through the defence lines after being slid in by Chhetri, but was thwarted by an onrushing Amrinder.
The less busy of the goalkeepers on the night, Lalthuammawia Ralte was pressed into a save on 78 minutes, doing well to keep out Prakash Thorat’s shot from in the box.
Westwood introduced Chhetri soon into the second half as the Blues held fort with relative ease. On in place of Rooney, the 30-year-old did well to set up shots for substitute Udanta Singh and again for Beingaichho.
Pune’s attempted forays into the final third were thwarted away without fuss by the defensive duo of Curtis Osano and John Johnson as the Blues held on for the 2-0 victory. Bengaluru next face Bharat FC at the Balewadi Stadium, in Pune, on Friday.
