Sports: Bengaluru FC has secured a coveted spot in their fourth Indian Super League final, thanks to a dramatic late goal from their talismanic captain, Sunil Chhetri. The Blues edged out FC Goa 3-2 on aggregate despite suffering a 2-1 defeat in the second leg of their semi-final clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on April 6th. Their earlier 2-0 victory in the first leg proved crucial in providing the necessary advantage.
The second leg saw FC Goa come out with attacking intent right from the whistle. Boris Singh tested the Bengaluru goalkeeper with a long-range attempt in the seventh minute, but it lacked the accuracy to trouble the scoreline. Shortly after, a promising opportunity fell to FC Goa’s Iker Guarrotxena, who received a precise pass from Udanta Singh inside the penalty area but directed his shot high and wide.
FC Goa continued to probe, with Dejan Drazic next to try his luck in the 13th minute. He connected with a cross from Aakash Sangwan, directing his shot towards the centre of the goal, but it lacked the necessary power to beat the Bengaluru custodian. The home side persisted with attempts from outside the box, with Ayush Dev Chhetri and Guarrotxena combining in added time of the first half, only for the latter’s shot to be blocked, ensuring the score remained unchanged at the break.
The relentless pressure from FC Goa finally yielded a breakthrough in the 49th minute when Borja Herrera found the back of the net. This goal injected renewed vigour into their attack, and they continued to press forward. Their efforts were rewarded further when they earned a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Herrera stepped up once again and delivered a perfectly placed strike into the bottom left corner, leveling the aggregate score.
The momentum appeared to be firmly with the home side as they created a series of chances. Ayush Dev Chhetri missed a shot from inside the box in the 69th minute, and shortly after, Guarrotxena headed an Udanta Singh cross on target, but Bengaluru goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu remained resolute. The game entered a tense final phase, and in the 89th minute, Aakash Sangwan delivered a dangerous cross from the flank, which was met by Armando Sadiku, who headed it into the bottom right corner to put FC Goa ahead on the night.
However, Bengaluru FC responded immediately with renewed attacking intent. They pushed forward, forcing FC Goa into conceding two quick corners in added time. From the second of these corners, Namgyal Bhutia delivered a well-placed cross, and Sunil Chhetri rose highest to head the ball with conviction into the high centre of the goal. This dramatic late strike sealed a 3-2 aggregate victory for Bengaluru FC, booking their place in the Indian Super League final.
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