Goa ride on Bengelloun's brace to sink Delhi

FC Goa got their act together after a couple of winless outings as they handed Delhi Dynamos an embarrassing 4-1 defeat, riding on Youness Bengelloun's twin strikes in an Indian Super League encounter in New Delhi.

The victory couldn't have come at a better time as it kept them in the reckoning for a semi-final berth in the cash-rich league.

Bengelloun scored in the 18th and 48th minute while captain Robert Pires and Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey scored one apiece, in the 53rd and 60 minute respectively.

Gustavo Santos pulled one back for the hosts, when he converted from the spot in the 73rd minute, but that was just a consolation goal as was evident from the faces of the disappointed Delhi fans and players.

The victory, a very important one for FC Goa, finally put an end to the visiting side's search for three points, their second in the tournament, while extending Dynamos’ winless run.

The Dynamos have now slipped to the bottom following four draws, three losses and a solitary win, while Goa improved a rung to move upto seventh spot with four defeats, two draws and as many wins in the eight-team franchise-based tournament.

The Goa outfit went ahead when Frenchman Bengelloun found the net almost halfway into the first half.

The second goal came as Andre Santos delivered a cross for Bengelloun, which the former Paris Saint Germain 'B' team defended gleefully headed home.

The visitors slammed the door on chances of a Dynamos comeback when Pires converted from the spot after Tolgay Ozbey, who was through with ball, was felled by Delhi's giant shotstopper Kristof Van Hout.

Tolgay completed the rout in the 60th minute, dribbling past a series of Dynamos defenders before successfully finding the back of the net at the JLN Stadium, which witnessed a paltry turnout.

The about 6000-odd turnout was the worst in the tournament, which is otherwise creating new scales in in-stadia audience, when compared to other to leagues in Asia.

Image: FC Goa players celebrate after scoring a goal

Photograph: PTI