Rooney double strike in Bengaluru FC`s 3-1 over Dempo

Bangalore: Australian striker Sean Rooney struck twice to help Bengaluru FC beat Dempo Sports Club 3-1 in their Airtel I-League encounter here on Wednesday.

Siam Hangal scored the other goal for the home side while Clifford Miranda pulled one back for Dempo at the Bangalore Football Stadium. Bengaluru FC maintained their unbeaten record at home as they went to the top of the table with 13 points from five matches. On the other hand, the Goan side are struck on six points from as many matches. Bengaluru`s Manipuri striker Hangal -- adjudged the Man- of-the-Match -- opened the scoring for the hosts in the sixth minute with a superb volley from outside the box that beat a diving Dempo goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury all ends up. Rooney doubled the score in the 11th minute. Sunil Chhetri entered the box from the left flank and his right rooter was punched out by Subhashish only to find Rooney lurking at the edge of the box. Rooney made no mistake in placing the ball into the far corner of the net. Rooney scored his second goal of the match in the 61st minute to take his tournament tally to five goals when he made a run through the centre after receiving the ball from Darren Caldeira. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Rooney made no mistake as he slid the ball past Subhashish to make it 3-0 for the home side. Two minutes later, the visitors pulled one back, when Miranda`s curling left footer from a free-kick beat the entire Bengaluru defence. After getting one goal back, the visitors piled on the pressure in the Bengaluru half but some brilliant defending by John Johnson and Curtis Osano ensured that the home side end the match with a morale-boosting win.