Garcia and Delgado strikes as Bengaluru ese past Goa to seal playoffs berth

The league leaders have now won five successive games.

Bengaluru FC continued their winning run in the Hero Indian Super League with a comfortable 2-0 victory over FC Goa to become first team to qualify for the knock-out at Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Friday. The league leaders have now won five successive games to further stretch their lead at the top of the standings. FC Goa, on the other hand, were left to rue a missed opportunity to get back into the top four.

Watch: Bengaluru FC 2-0 FC Goa   Edu Garcia opened the scoring on the night for Bengaluru FC in the 35th minute, and then in the 82nd minute, Dimas Delgado strike made sure that the home side takes all three points from the game.   FC Goa started the game on the front foot, but for all their keep-ball play in the first 30 minutes, there was hardly anything to test Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the Bengaluru FC goal.

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Bengaluru – who made seven changes in the playing eleven giving rest to their key players - slowly grew into the game as the first period of 45 minutes progressed. Edu Garcia gave the home side the lead. After having been made to chase the game, Bengaluru FC stepped up and the pressure came to tell in the 35th minute. Toni Dovale's well-driven corner kick from the left was met by the Spaniard at the far post, and the ball looped into the top right-hand corner of the goal, despite Bruno Pinheiro's best efforts to keep it out on the goaline.   In the second half, Albert Roca's sides kept pressing hard to keep FC Goa off their passing game, and it worked out pretty well. Under pressure from Bengaluru, the visitors were guilty of losing possession far too cheaply in the second half. Even when FC Goa did manage to develop something going forward, the final ball was still not there.   And just nine minutes before full time, Dimas Delgado sealed the game for Bengaluru FC with a well-taken shot from inside the box. After some clever play on the edge of the box between Boithang Haokip and Toni Dovale, the ball fell kindly for Delgado, and he calmly side-footed the ball past FC Goa goalkeeper Naveen Kumar.   Sergio Lobera's FC Goa has taken only one point out nine in their last three games. Even though, they still have a game in hand over fourth places Jamshedpur FC but the time is fast running out on them and now the pressure will surely be mounting on the former Barcelona youth coach.