Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Bengaluru FC 4-3 on penalties after the game finished 2-2 in the semi-final of the 133rd Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Bengaluru started the game on the front, determined to make an immediate impact with quick passing using intricate triangles. The Mariners initially looked out at sea but gained composure to steady their defensive ship.
One-touch passes through left released Roshan Singh down the flank with two good deliveries somehow cleared by Subhaish Bose. The Mohun Bagan captain was the shortest of the defenders as Bengaluru looked to target the apparent weakness. He did manage to hold his ground and fouled Alberto Noguera in the 11th minute but the resulting free-kick was cleared away.
In the very next minute, Liston Colaco, who has been marked constantly to stop fast breaks, was fouled by Suresh Singh. Mohun Bagan took the free-kick quickly only for the ball to be circulated back to Liston, whose swerving shot was instinctively punched away by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
It was Bengaluru’s chance again in the 13th minute as Sunil Chhetri was through on goal from an Alberto Rodriguez miscue. The defender and then Vishal Kaith did well in goal to stop the chance.
Chhetri found himself through after Aldred’s miscued clearance, but the skipper’s unable to get his shot away in time to trouble Kaith. Noguera’s attempt to skip past his marker on the rebound is dealt with.
In the 21st minute, Sahal Abdul Samad was clipped by the last defender but the referee did not give a foul, leaving the Mohun Bagan mid-fielder furious.
Subhaish Bose had to be substituted after he picked up a knock, making way for Dippendu Biswas in the 27th minute as Bengaluru altered their target.
Bengaluru players were firm in their challenges and quick to close down any breaks from Mohun Bagan, who relied primarily on counters. The Mariners couldn’t capitalise on their free-kicks due to some good defending from Bengaluru and poor touches from Mohun Bagan players.
With the game easing into a pattern in mid-field, a defensive mistake from Liston yielded a penalty – with a mistimed challenge on Vinith Venkatesh – in the 42nd minute. Vishal Kaith saw yellow for his protests as Chhetri stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong.
After going behind, Mohun Bagan looked desperate for an equaliser. Liston’s shot from distance struck the post in added time after 45 as Alberto’s header from Thapa’s cross also hit the upright.
The crowd, who sporadically chanted for justice for the RG Kar victim, lost their voice when the half-time echoed around the Salt Lake stadium.
After the restart, it was Bengaluru who looked eager to score as Vinith’s shot from outside the box sailed over the bar in the 47th minute.
In the 50th minute, a long ball from Roshan down the found Jorge Pereyra Diaz free in behind the defence. With Kaith rushing out of his goal, a well-timed ball to his right left Vinith free to tap the ball into the empty net for Bengaluru’s second of the night.
Mohun Bagan players thought they would not get to score at all on the night after a mistake in defence from Gurpreet in the 60th minute left substitute Greg Stewart free to head the ball into an empty net but sent his effort wide.
In the 66th minute, Manvir was brought down by Rahul Bheke with a shirt tug as the referee pointed to the spot. After some protests again Dimitri Petratos stepped up and slotted the ball into the net.
Kaith kept Mohun Bagan in the game with a big save in the 72nd to keep out a glancing header from substitute Edgar Mendez. The Mariners took heart and launched attack after attack in the aftermath.
With all that pressure, the equaliser finally came in the 84th minute. The Bengaluru defence managed to clear the corner but only till Anirudh Thapa, who was on the edge of the box. The Indian mid-fielder put his laces through the ball as his shot evaded a sea of bodies inside the six-yard area and ruffled into the bottom left corner.
Penalties it was.
Jason Cummins scored. Edgar Mendez scored.
Manvir Singh scored. Rahul Bheke scored.
Liston Colaco scored. Pedro Capo scored.
Dimitrios Petratos scored. Halicharan Narzary missed.
Greg Stewart missed. Aleksandar Jovanovic missed.
Mohun Bagan won 4-3 as the fans brought out tifos demanding justice for their sister who was raped and murdered in RG Kar.
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