Ronaldinho’s fifer hands Goa thumping 7-2 win over Bengaluru

The Brazilian disappointed in the first game, struggling to keep pace, but looked much better right from the start on Sunday, setting up teammate Rafael as he struck the post in the opening minute, as Goa started on a brighter note.

The Barcelona legend had the crowd in rapt cheers with a brilliant goal in the sixth minute, as a corner from the left was laid off to him in the box, but he exquisitely side-stepped the diving goalkeeper and slotted into an empty net to give Goa the lead. Bengaluru came back right at the end of the first quarter, as Maximiliano scored a brilliant solo goal, slotting from a narrow angle after a quick stepover past the keeper.

The Brazilian maestro then completed his hat-trick and gave Goa a comeback lead with a first time reflex shot. Paul Scholes struggled to influence the game in the third quarter, but his counterpart for Goa continued toying with the Bengaluru defence, first with a series of keepy-ups and then a mazing dribbling run.

 If there was any doubt about his quality, Ronaldinho obliterated it with a cheeky fourth in the 32nd minute, lofting the ball over a defender and into the net with Bengaluru keeper Elias stranded upfield. Yet another Indian player made the scoresheet with Marshall making it 5-2 moments later tapping the ball from a yard out after Vampeta’s shot.