Kolkata: Mohammedan Sporting only had their luck to blame for not walking away as winners against Bengaluru FC on Wednesday. The Kolkata outfit dominated large portions of the game, created numerous chances, and consistently tested Bengaluru’s defence and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
However, two late strikes from Sunil Chhetri ensured that Bengaluru FC claimed all three points at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, regaining the top spot in the Indian Super League (ISL) standings.
Manzoki: The tragic hero
Mohammedan Sporting started brilliantly in a 4-3-3 formation, pressing high and unsettling Bengaluru FC’s defence. Their efforts bore fruit in the 8th minute when Carlos Franca surged down the left flank and, despite fumbling initially, set up Mirjalol Kasimov. Kasimov’s deflected shot won a corner, and his subsequent delivery was met by Cesar Manzoki, who headed it into the bottom right corner, giving Mohammedan Sporting an early 1-0 lead.
Cesar Manzoki celebrating after scoring a goal for Mohammedan Sporting.
Manzoki, however, endured heartbreak in the 86th minute. After Alexis Gomez recovered possession and released Lalremsanga Fanai, the latter’s pinpoint cross found Manzoki in the box. Despite smart movement to lose his marker, his header agonizingly struck the post, denying him a chance to double the lead and atone for a costly mistake moments earlier.
Nervy moments in the first half
After taking the early lead, Mohammedan Sporting gradually lost momentum, ceding possession to Bengaluru FC. Their control, which peaked at 51 per cent around the 25th minute, dropped significantly by half-time. Bengaluru came close to equalising on multiple occasions, including a penalty appeal in the 43rd minute when Nikhil Poojary’s shot seemed to have hit Zodingliana’s right arm, but referee Crystal John waved it off.
In first-half injury time, Zuidika’s crucial interception thwarted Ryan Williams, who was poised to strike from a back pass in the box, with only Bhaskar Roy between him and the goal. These nervy moments highlighted Mohammedan Sporting’s vulnerability but also their resilience in defence.
Mohammedan Sporting’s second-half fightback
The second half saw Mohammedan Sporting regain their attacking edge. Five minutes into the half, Franca had a golden opportunity but shot wide. Shortly after, Manzoki’s through pass set up a promising attack by Remsanga, but Bengaluru FC’s defence regrouped in time.
Substitute Alexis Gomez came close in the 75th minute with a well-placed shot, but Gurpreet Singh Sandhu produced a stunning save to keep Bengaluru in the game. Mohammedan Sporting kept piling on the pressure, but their inability to convert chances ultimately proved costly.
Bhaskar Roy’s roller-coaster game
Goalkeeper Bhaskar delivered a remarkable performance for Mohammedan Sporting, making a series of stunning saves. In the 64th minute, he denied Sunil Chhetri with a full-stretch dive. Four minutes later, he dived again to thwart Chhetri’s curling free-kick.
However, Bhaskar’s heroics were overshadowed by late drama, as Chhetri turned the tide in Bengaluru’s favour
Sunil Chhetri’s late brilliance
Introduced as a second-half substitute, Chhetri proved decisive. In the 82nd minute, Manzoki was caught holding Pedro Capo back in the box during a corner, forcing referee John to gift Bengaluru FC a spot kick. Chhetri stepped up and coolly slotted the ball past Bhaskar keeping the ball low on the right left side, restoring the parity for the visitors.
Sunil Chhetri scoring from the penalty against Mohammedan Sporting.
The goal etched Chhetri’s name in history as the first player to score against all 15 ISL teams and extended his record for most penalty goals in the competition (20).
As the match headed into injury time, Chhetri delivered the coup de grace. Rising to meet a precise cross from Lalremtluanga Fanai, his powerful header beat Bhaskar, sealing a dramatic 2-1 victory for Bengaluru FC.
Mohammedan Sporting’s gallant effort falls short
Despite their relentless attempts in the choking dying moments, including shots that hit the post and others saved by Gurpreet, Mohammedan Sporting could not find an equaliser. Bengaluru FC’s resilience and Chhetri’s brilliance ensured they escaped with a hard-fought victory, leaving Mohammedan Sporting to rue missed chances and a valiant but unlucky effort.
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