Super Cup: Bengaluru score four past Gokulam Kerala to stay on track for place in semis

Margao: After two trophy-less seasons, the winds of change are blowing through Bengaluru FC.The current squad has new faces, some very old ones too, but in the first two group-stage games of the Super Cup, one thing has become clear: their future is promising.

If Kelvin Singh scored in the group opener, Vinith Venkatesh was on target against Gokulam Kerala in the 4-0 win at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Sunday.Vinith’s goal, the second of the night, was of big interest as it came from a Kelvin assist. Like Bengaluru pointed out, “that’s our youth development programme in action, right there.”In all fairness, while the youth did have a significant role to play, it was a foreign hand that gave them the goals. Ryan Williams, a familiar name, struck twice. And, yes, Sunil Chhetri can’t stop scoring. The club legend rose from the bench for yet another game to score the fourth for Bengaluru.The 4-0 win gave Bengaluru six points from two games and a goal difference of six, the same as Punjab FC. The top two teams will now clash on Wednesday night for a place in the semifinals. If it’s a draw after 90 minutes, it will come down to penalties. If still tied, then lots will be drawn.No wonder coach Gerard Zaragoza pushed Bengaluru to score another one. Ashique Kuruniyan almost did, only to see his effort hit the crossbar in stoppage time.

Gokulam Kerala were a better team than what the scoreline suggested.Before Bengaluru could score their second, three minutes before the end of the first half, the two-time former I-League champions had several chances to fight their way back into the game. Samuel Kynshi went close twice, then Rahul Raju and Alfred Planas also missed.In the second half, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made two good saves – both worryingly for the team stemming from defensive lapses – to deny Emil Benny from distance and Akshunna Tyagi very close.Unlike Gokulam Kerala’s wayward shooting – they haven’t scored in four competitive games now -- Bengaluru grabbed whatever came their way.Williams started it all with a grounder in the seventh minute from Sirojiddon Kuziev’s through ball, and then Kelvin picked Vinith inside the box for the second.At half time, Bengaluru had a two-goal advantage, but that wasn’t going to be enough. They needed more, and Williams provided them with the perfect start to the half as he curled the ball from a difficult angle to make it 3-0.Chhetri then combined with Williams to add another one, the club’s most decorated footballer putting his experience to good use for a calm finish from inside the box in the 62nd minute.Earlier at Bambolim, Punjab continued with their winning ways as they scored a commanding 3-0 victory against Mohammedan Sporting Club.Ninthoinganba Meetei broke the deadlock to give his side the lead, before Samir Zeljkovic doubled the advantage just before half-time. Manglenthang Kipgen then put the result beyond doubt with a composed third in the 72nd minute.