Star striker and skipper Sunil Chhetri struck twice as Bengaluru FC thrashed Churchill Brothers 3-0 in a Round 20 match to remain on top of the I-League points table here today.
A Robin Singh strike in the 61st minute sandwiched between a Chhetri (56th and 89th) double showed the resilience that Ashley Westwood's side possesses after they suffered a 2-3 loss to Rangdajied United last week in Shillong.
The win takes Bengaluru to 34 points from 18 games while Churchill's quest for survival was handed a severe blow. The Goan side still remained in the relegation zone.
Following today's match, Chhetri's goal tally in the competition went up to 12 -- making him the highest scorer in the tournament so far.
Just like the away leg at Goa, Bengaluru got off to an unusually sedate start and did not look like troubling the visitors who had their fair share of possession.
Westwood used the half-time talk to challenge his big players, asking them to step up and they responded to the tee. The coach pulled out Beikhokhei Beingaichho and threw in Robin just before the half time to inject life into the Bengaluru attack -- a move that worked perfectly.
Chhetri scored the first of his pair in the 56th minute and it came from sheer instinct for opportunity. Robin sent one in for Sean Rooney whose shot bounced off the keeper and fell loose. Chhetri, lurking nearby, pounced and tapped home for the opening goal.
The second goal came just five minutes later out of nothing. Keegan Pereira picked out Robin from deep inside the Bengaluru half and the striker rose to head past last man Sanjay Balmuchu before chasing the ball and putting it past a hapless Bhattacharya.
Bengaluru found their stride and they would not let the momentum drop after that.
Westwood brought in CK Vineeth for Rooney and the new man almost got his first goal for his side. Robin sent in a cross from the left but Vineeth failed to latch on to by a whisker. Minutes later, Vineeth repaid the favour, setting up Robin from a tight angle but the striker smashed his shot high.
Not content with a 2-0 lead, Bengaluru were all over Churchill and Chhetri was at hand to tap home again in the 89th minute.
