Bheke Scores Extra Time Winner As Bengaluru FC Secure Indian Super League Crown With 1-0 Win Over FC Goa

Mumbai: Rahul Bheke wrote the last lines in a script that had Bengaluru FC crowned Indian Super League champions, with a 1-0 win over FC Goa in the final, held at the Mumbai Football Arena, in Andheri, on Sunday. The Blues’ defender scored with a 118th minute header off a Dimas Delgado corner, and sealed the title for Carles Cuadrat’s men, who secured a sixth trophy in as many seasons.

In keeping with the build-up to what was touted as a battle of equals, Cuadrat and Lobera both started with a 4-2-3-1. The Bengaluru boss paired Rahul Bheke and Juanan Gonzalez in the centre of defence, while Harmanjot Khabra dropped back from the midfield to right-back and Nishu Kumar kept his position on the left in defence. Alex Barrera, playing only his third game for the club, had Dimas for company in the midfield. In attack, the trio of Miku, Udanta Singh and Sunil Chhetri had Xisco Hernandez sitting just behind them to orchestrate chances.

The Blues had the first whiff of goal when Miku, picking a pass from Chhetri, weaved his way into the Goa box only for ’keeper Naveen Kumar to get to the ball before the Venezuelan looked set to pull the trigger. Miku had another big chance in the 26th minute when Udanta’s shot on goal ended up at his feet. The striker brought the ball under control, got past an advancing Kumar but couldn’t do much with an angle that was tight.

Goa survived the first half without conceding given Bengaluru had the better of the chances in attack, but were dealt a blow when captain Mandar Rao Dessai had to be substituted with Saviour Gama, after the left-back pulled a hamstring, with minutes to the break.

After a cautious re-start to the game, Goa began finding their feet in attack, but kept running into Gurpreet Singh Sandhu who saw off a few half-chances without much fuss. Ahmed Jahou had the best chance, picking up a lay-off from Jackichand Singh only to see his attempt on target with the side of his foot, fly straight at Sandhu.

With a little more than twenty minutes to regulation time, Cuadrat made his first change, replacing Barrera with the more attacking Luisma Villa. Bengaluru had the chance to stick one leg in the door when Xisco picked Miku with a deft touch in the box in the 81st minute. The striker beat the last line defence and poked past an outstretched Kumar, only to see the ball come off the post. Goa then survived another Bengaluru attack in the third minute of stoppage time when Miku looked to hook the ball beyond Kumar from in the box. But Mourtada Fall was at hand to head the attempt out for a corner as referee Taqi Jahari blew his whistle to take the final into extra time.

The first half of extra time looked like passing by with only Xisco’s rasping drive from 30 yards that Kumar kept out, worth talking about. But that was till JahouH lashed out at Miku and caught the striker in his midriff on the follow through of a challenge. Already booked in the first half, the Moroccan midfielder was sent off by Jahari, reducing Goa to ten men with fifteen minutes to play. Looking to make the most of the numerical advantage, Cuadrat made his second and third changes, bringing on winger Boithang Haokip for Nishu Kumar while also sending on Kean Lewis in place of Udanta Singh. Bengaluru made the most of advantage and broke the deadlock just two minutes from the final whistle with a set-piece.

Having won a corner off Gama, Dimas swung in a set piece that found Bheke unmarked in the area. In space and with time at his mercy, the defender looped a header wide and clear of Naveen in the Goa goal, as the ball shook the net off the upright at the top corner, sending the traveling Bengaluru supporters into delirium. Bengaluru then made a fourth substitution, sending on Albert Serran in place of Xisco, as Cuadrat put a lid on things to secure the Blues’ first ever Indian Super League crown.

VISIT MATCHCENTRE