[ad_1]
KOLKATA: FC Goa goalkeeper Naveen Kumar saved two penalties, including the decisive one, helping his team scrape past a fighting Bengaluru FC 7-6 in sudden death after the second semifinal between the two ISL sides ended 2-2 in regulation and extra time at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday.
Sivasakthi Narayanan put BFC ahead in the third minute only for FC Goa to equalize eight minutes later through Devendra Murgaonkar. Juan Ferrando’s side then took the lead for the first time in the 72nd minute when substitute Redeem Tlang beat BFC goalkeeper Lara with an excellent finish. But the indomitable spirit of BFC kept them in the fray when Sivasakthi turned in Namgyal Bhutia’s cross for his second goal of the night six minutes from the regulation time.
But Naveen denied Damaitphang Lyngdoh from the spot in the sudden death, sending FC Goa to the final where they will meet Mohammedan Sporting on Sunday.
Before the match, BFC coach Naushad Moosa urged his team — comprising mostly p[layers from the reserve side and the club’s academy — to “make life difficult” for FC Goa, who started with three Spaniards. And they did walk the talk, giving Ferrando’s boys a run for their money right from the start to the sudden death.
Sivasakthi and later Bidyashagar Singh posed questions constantly to the Goa defence. Ferrando made a triple substitution on the hour mark, bringing on Makan Chothe, Redeem and Aibanbha Dohling. The plan bore fruit when Redeem made it 2-1.
But Moosa’s youngsters rose to the occasion again, Sivasakthi heading home and forcing the second semifinal to go into extra-time as well. But it was not enough as Naveen turned the savior for his team, denying Lyngdoh in the sudden death to keep FC Goa alive and ringing the curtain down on BFC’s campaign.
Sivasakthi Narayanan put BFC ahead in the third minute only for FC Goa to equalize eight minutes later through Devendra Murgaonkar. Juan Ferrando’s side then took the lead for the first time in the 72nd minute when substitute Redeem Tlang beat BFC goalkeeper Lara with an excellent finish. But the indomitable spirit of BFC kept them in the fray when Sivasakthi turned in Namgyal Bhutia’s cross for his second goal of the night six minutes from the regulation time.
But Naveen denied Damaitphang Lyngdoh from the spot in the sudden death, sending FC Goa to the final where they will meet Mohammedan Sporting on Sunday.
Before the match, BFC coach Naushad Moosa urged his team — comprising mostly p[layers from the reserve side and the club’s academy — to “make life difficult” for FC Goa, who started with three Spaniards. And they did walk the talk, giving Ferrando’s boys a run for their money right from the start to the sudden death.
Sivasakthi and later Bidyashagar Singh posed questions constantly to the Goa defence. Ferrando made a triple substitution on the hour mark, bringing on Makan Chothe, Redeem and Aibanbha Dohling. The plan bore fruit when Redeem made it 2-1.
But Moosa’s youngsters rose to the occasion again, Sivasakthi heading home and forcing the second semifinal to go into extra-time as well. But it was not enough as Naveen turned the savior for his team, denying Lyngdoh in the sudden death to keep FC Goa alive and ringing the curtain down on BFC’s campaign.
[ad_2]
Source link