Seong-Yong Kim struck twice as Bengaluru Football Club (BFC) thrashed Shillong Lajong FC 3-0 in an I-League encounter at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Sunday evening.
In another match on Sunday, Mumbai FC defeated Salgaocar FC 2-1 at the Cooperage Stadium in Mumbai.
Kim (35th, 60th minutes) scored once in each half after C.K. Vineeth found the back of the Lajong net within the first 40 seconds. The win powered BFC to the top of the points table with an all-win record. The former champions have garnered nine points, having won all three of their matches so far.
The hosts put themselves in front immediately after the kick-off when Kim chested down a cross from John Johnson and found Alwyn George, whose pass was met with an excellent finish from Vineeth.
BFC dominated the game for the most part and the excellent work of their forwards was backed up by a strong performance by the defence. The visitors managed to penetrate the BFC penalty area several times, but were unable to create too many clear chances as Johnson and Curtis Osano stood tall at the centre of the hosts' defence.
Kim doubled Bengaluru's advantage before the break when he tapped in the rebound after Eugeneson Lyngdoh's attempt from an Osano free-kick was unable to find the target. The Korean put the match beyond the visitors' reach in the second half when he punished some sloppy work by the Lajong defenders by scoring off a pass from Sunil Chhetri.
In an earlier match on Sunday, Mumbai FC defeated Salgaocar FC 2-1 at the Cooperage Stadium in Mumbai. Taisuke Matsugae (37th) and Sushil Kumar (48th) scored for the hosts while Jackichand Singh (68th) pulled one back for Salgaocar.
Mumbai thus registered their first win of this season are now on five points, having lost two of their three matches so far. Salgaocar have lost all their three matches and continue to languish at the bottom of the table.