ISL 2024-25: Sunil Chhetri's Late Strike Leads Bengaluru FC Past Goa to Final
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Synopsis
On April 6, Bengaluru FC secured their fourth Indian Super League final appearance after a thrilling 3-2 aggregate victory against FC Goa in the semi-final. Despite a 2-1 defeat in the second leg, Sunil Chhetri's last-minute goal propelled them into the final.
Key Takeaways
- Bengaluru FC reached their fourth ISL final.
- They achieved a 3-2 aggregate victory.
- Sunil Chhetri scored a crucial goal in stoppage time.
- FC Goa's early attempts highlighted their intent.
- The match concluded with exciting last-minute goals.
Goa, April 6 (NationPress) Bengaluru FC achieved a remarkable feat by securing their fourth final appearance in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 with a 3-2 aggregate victory over FC Goa during the semi-final's second leg on Sunday.
Despite suffering a 2-1 loss in the second leg at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, their earlier 2-0 win in the first leg ensured they progressed to the final, with Sunil Chhetri delivering a crucial goal during stoppage time of the second half.
The Gaurs aimed to dominate the match early on, as Boris Singh sent a long-range shot soaring over the goal in the seventh minute. Almost immediately, Udanta Singh provided a precise assist to Iker Guarrotxena within the penalty area, but the striker's attempt went high and wide to the left. These early attempts highlighted FC Goa’s determination to quickly close the gap.
In the 13th minute, Dejan Drazic joined the action, capitalizing on a pass from Aakash Sangwan to send a shot at the center of the goal. However, the shot lacked the necessary power to find the back of the net.
The home team continued to test from outside the box, with Ayush Dev Chhetri and Guarrotxena combining in stoppage time of the first half, but the Spaniard's shot was blocked, leaving the score unchanged at half-time.
FC Goa's persistence finally bore fruit in the 49th minute when Borja Herrera scored, pushing forward with intent at the start of the second half. A free-kick from the edge of the penalty area saw Herrera strike the ball with precision into the bottom left corner, marking his team’s first goal of the semi-final.
The team, guided by Manolo Marquez, continued to create chances, with Ayush Dev Chhetri misfiring a shot at the center of the goal in the 69th minute, followed by Udanta’s cross to Guarrotxena, who headed on target but failed to beat Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
The match reached a thrilling climax as Sangwan’s skill from the flanks shone in the 89th minute, where his cross was headed in by Armando Sadiku into the bottom right corner, levelling the score.
This goal revitalized Bengaluru FC, who quickly countered, overwhelming the FC Goa defense, leading to hasty corners conceded by Sandesh Jhingan and Brison Fernandes during stoppage time. From one such corner, Namgyal Bhutia delivered a cross that Sunil Chhetri met with a powerful header into the center of the goal, securing Bengaluru FC a spot in the final.
