Chhetri plunges a dagger into FC Goa’s heart with stoppage time goal | Goa News
Panaji: To death and taxes, you can add FC Goa’s playoff exits as life’s certainties. This was their fourth consecutive semifinal exit in the Indian Super League (ISL), and the sixth in eight appearances. Like before, this one too ended cruelly.
Goa pushed Bengaluru FC on the backfoot for most part of their second leg semifinal clash at home, scored twice in the second half, but even though they won 2-1, it wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit and make it to the ISL final later this week.
Instead, it will be Bengaluru who will play the final, their second in three years, thanks to their 2-0 win in the first leg.
In a match where Goa carved many chances and had 10 shots on goal, the match was decided on an error from Dejan Drazic. The Serbian winger played the ball inside the box during a defensive clearance, only for Namgyal Bhutia to intercept, evade his marker Sahil Tavora and then send it across where Sunil Chhetri finished with a diving header.
When Chhetri plunged a dagger into Goa’s heart, it was the second minute of second half stoppage time. It was the first time they scored, good enough to cancel the two goals that the home team had scored in the second half through Borja Herrera (49th minute) and Armando Sadiku (88th).
“He scores when he wants, Sunil Chhetri, he scores when he wants,” Bengaluru’s loud away fans sang of their hero. “We’ve got Chhetri, Sunil Chhetri, I just don’t think you understand; oh, when he scores, we go mad, we have got Sunil Chhetri.”
Had it not been for Chhetri’s late strike, Goa could have been singing praises of their own players. Of Sadiku, for example, for scoring that crucial second goal, with just two minutes remaining on the clock. Or of Drazic, the man who was such a threat on the left wing that Bengaluru defenders were forced to crowd around him whenever he had the ball at his feet.
Knowing they had to win by at least two goals to take this game into extra time, or three to make it to the final, Goa started on the front foot. Coach Manolo Marquez dropped Brison Fernandes and opted to start with Ayush Chhetri, while Borja made way for Drazic.
It gave Goa balance and helped push forward. But Bengaluru were expecting this approach, so they defended in numbers behind the ball. The all-Indian defence of Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana Singh, Roshan Singh and Bhutia hardly put a foot wrong, fending off whatever was thrown at them inside the box.
After a barren first session, Goa were rewarded for their brave attacking approach in the 49th minute. Ayush was fouled just outside the box and Borja took goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu by surprise with a powerful freekick that gave him no time to react.
Goa had their tails up and launched numerous attacks, but Gurpreet proved unbeatable. He first denied Drazic with a diving save, but showed why he believes he is the best keeper in the country with a stunning double save, blocking Iker Guarrotxena and Borja shots in quick succession.
It seemed Bengaluru had done enough to pocket this game but Sadiku, left on the bench for many games, had a point to prove. He smartly beat the trap and headed home Akash Sangwan’s cross, before Gurpreet could react.
The stadium erupted in joy. And then in the second minute of stoppage time, the home crowd was silenced.
Like in the past, Goa were left to think of what might have been. Was Drazic offside when he scored? Was that a handball for Bengaluru inside the box? Should Goa have had a penalty? What if Drazic had just lobbed the ball forward?
These were the playoffs, and nobody handles them better than Bengaluru.
