ISL semifinals | Bengaluru holds the aces over Goa after a thumping win in the first leg

Bengaluru FC dominates FC Goa 2-0 in ISL semifinal with own goal and clean hit, taking lead towards final.

Bengaluru FC outclassed FC Goa 2-0 in the first leg of their ISL semifinal here on Wednesday.

In front of nearly 20,000 spectators at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, an own goal from Sandesh Jhingan and a clean hit from Edgar Mendez allowed BFC to take a giant step towards reaching the final.

The scrappy encounter saw the home team take the lead just before half-time, when Jhingan failed to safely clear a cross.

Manning the near post, the defender was under pressure from Ryan Williams, resulting in a header into his own net.

Williams nearly doubled the lead in quick time, when a through ball from Suresh Wangjam left him unmarked.

A weak side-footed shot, however, was dealt with ease by FCG goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari.

Williams made up for the lapse in the second half, finding Namgyal Bhutia with a perfectly weighted pass. Bhutia, with all the space in the world, sent the ball into the box. Spanish forward Mendez lay in wait, and found the side netting with a crisp strike.