Bengaluru FC qualified to the Indian Super League final for the third time in the club’s history after a penalty shootout win following a 2-2 tie on aggregate in their semifinal 2nd leg against Mumbai City FC qualified, at the Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Sunday. Indian Super League: Bengaluru FC beat Mumbai City FC qualified for final.
Javi Hernandez scored the Blues’ opener, before goals from Bipin Singh and Mehtab Singh drew the Islanders level to take the tie to penalties. Blues Head Coach Simon Grayson went with an unchanged lineup once again, with Roy Krishna and Sivasakthi leading the line. Mumbai, meanwhile made one change, with Rowllin Borges replacing Lalengmawia Ralte in the starting lineup.
The Blues began aggressively, making plenty of forays into the Islanders’ box and coming close on a few occasions. But the tense narrative of the game became evident within just the 8th minute when Bengaluru ’keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was adjudged to have brought Jorge Diaz in the box, which led to referee Rahul Kumar Gupta pointing to the spot.
But Sandhu staged a redemption act, diving full stretch to his left to keep Greg Srewart’s low hit out, followed by a second save right after. Bengaluru made their strong start count in the 22nd minute. Sivasakthi got past Mehtab Singh and sent in a cross which was nodded home by Javi Hernandez to give the Blues the lead, and add to the aggregate.
In a game where both teams were creating chances with aplomb, it didn’t take long for Mumbai to get themselves a goal, as Bipin Singh equalized on the night at the half-hour mark. Rowllin Borges’ attempt in the box was saved by Gurpreet, only for the ball to fall into the feet of Bipin who slotted home from close range.
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The Blues will now await the winner of the other semifinal between Hyderabad FC and ATK Mohun Bagan, among whom they will face on at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Goa, on Saturday.
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