Sunil Chhetri netted a brace as Bengaluru FC pipped Salgaocar 3-2 in the inaugural match of the Federation Cup football tournament here Sunday.
Australian forward Sean Rooney was the other scorer for the winners, while Salgaocar struck through Gurjinder Kumar and Ivorian Douhou Pierre with all the goals coming in the pacy first half of the Group B encounter at the Tilak Maidan.
Bengaluru FC tried to control the game from the outset, but Salgaocar matched the offensives after Chhetri - adjudged player of the year for 2014 - scored from the spot in the 25th minute.
Attempting to put home the skipper's cross from the left, Rooney's shot struck defender Pawan Kumar's hand before the referee pointed to the spot. Chhetri calmly put in the easiest setpiece.
Salgaocar got their equaliser a little later when Gurjinder scored from a freekick variation from 30 yards.
Five minutes before the breather, Bengaluru again shot into the lead after a brilliant build-up saw Chhetri finish with the outside of his boot by following up on a Beikhokhei Beingaichho floater.
It took only a minute for Salgaocar to quell the Bengaluru celebrations when Pierre outwitted Englishman Josh Walker and smashed home from outside the box.
But Bengaluru had the last laugh before the halftime break. Darting down the left, Chhetri picked out Rooney with an inch-perfect pass and the Australian scored one that mattered the most with a simple finish.
Bengaluru FC face Mohun Bagan in their second group game Tuesday.
