Sunil Chhetri: The Pain of ISL Final Loss Will Fade with Victory
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Synopsis
Sunil Chhetri, India's top scorer, expressed the pain of losing the ISL final to Mohun Bagan Super Giants on social media. He emphasized that while the hurt lingers, it will only fade once Bengaluru FC achieves victory.
Key Takeaways
- Sunil Chhetri is India's all-time leading goal scorer.
- Bengaluru FC lost the ISL final to Mohun Bagan Super Giants.
- Chhetri scored 14 goals in the current season.
- He encourages fans to reflect on the loss but also to look forward to future victories.
- Chhetri's goal tally in playoff matches is impressive.
New Delhi, April 14 (NationPress) Few can articulate feelings like Sunil Chhetri, India’s leading goal-scorer. The 40-year-old striker for Bengaluru FC, after the disappointing ISL final defeat to Mohun Bagan Super Giants, turned to social media to uplift his supporters.
Bengaluru FC initially took the lead after Alberto Rodriguez of Mohun Bagan accidentally scored an own goal. However, just 23 minutes later, MBSG was awarded a penalty, which Jason Cummings effortlessly converted, bringing the match to a 1-1 draw. As the game moved into stoppage time, MBSG's top scorer Jamie Maclaren sealed a thrilling 2-1 comeback, further securing MBSG's legacy in ISL history.
Chhetri has had a remarkable season, netting 14 goals in the Indian Super League, ranking him second overall in 2024/2025, while also being the highest-scoring Indian. He has also contributed with two assists.
While he took time to contemplate the loss, Chhetri believes this pain will only subside when BFC finally triumphs. He shared, "I did what everyone does after losing a final. I reflected on all the what-ifs and missed chances. The freekick, the header, every opportunity missed.
“I understand your feelings. Losing is tough. This loss will linger for a bit. So, indulge in some ice cream, treat yourself to a cheat meal on a Monday, skip the gym—do whatever it takes to feel better. But remember, this hurt will only fade when we win again.
“You support this team because of our resilience. Don’t let anything change that. We’ve faced numerous finals and have always emerged stronger. That’s how we operate at BFC.
“For now, we will feel this pain, but we will persevere until we achieve our goal. That’s our way. That’s how we’ve always done it at this club,” Chhetri posted on Instagram.
Though he didn’t score in the final, Chhetri’s playoff statistics are impressive. He has played 16 matches for Bengaluru FC in ISL knockout stages, scoring ten goals and providing an assist. He netted four times during the ISL 2017-18 knockout stages, including a hat-trick against FC Pune City in the semifinal's decisive leg, and scored in the final, despite the Blues losing to Chennaiyin FC.
In the 2018-19 season, he showcased his talent again, scoring in the second leg of the semifinal against NorthEast United FC, which led to Bengaluru FC lifting the ISL Cup.
The 2019-20 season was less fruitful as Bengaluru FC fell to ATK FC in the semi-finals, but Chhetri made a significant impact upon returning to the knockout stages in 2022-23 after three years.
He scored the decisive goal against Kerala Blasters FC in the knockout match and netted the winner in the first leg of the semifinal against Mumbai City FC, which Bengaluru FC won on penalties.
Once again on the scoresheet in the final against Mohun Bagan Super Giant, which ended in a penalty shootout loss for the Blues, Chhetri added to his playoff goal tally in 2024-25 with a stunning goal in a 5-0 victory over Mumbai City FC in the knockout fixture, and scored the crucial goal in the semifinal against FC Goa.
