J Banerjee
Kerala Blasters FC vs. Bengaluru FC Highlights from BFC against KBFC in ISL 2023: Bengaluru FC got to the Indian Super League semifinals despite controversy. Bengaluru FC took the lead in the seventh minute of extra time thanks to a contentious goal by Sunil Chhetri. The Kerala Blasters weren’t happy with how things turned out. Ivan Vukomanvoic and his colleagues fled the pitch because they were not happy. After waiting for the rest of the game, the Bengaluru FC players were granted the match.
Bengaluru FC progressed to the Hero Kerala Blasters FC vs. Bengaluru FC Indian Super League (ISL) semi-finals with a 1-0 victory against Kerala Blasters FC on Friday at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Sunil Chhetri scored the solitary goal of the game in the seventh minute of extra time to give his team their ninth consecutive win and a semi-final spot.
The Blasters dominated possession in the first half but couldn’t beat Bengaluru FC goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. With the help of Roy Krishna and Sivasakthi Narayanan’s quick feet, the Blues were content to play on the counter.
In the first half, the hosts had six shots on goal, but just one was on target. Krishna tried three of the shots. In the 24th minute, the Fijian registered the sole attempt on goal in the half from a tight angle. It was cleared away for a corner, from which Krishna’s header missed the net. Gill almost parried it right into Hernandez’s path.
HALF WAY TO THE MATCH
Danish Farooq’s looping header from a corner was missed by an unmarked Victor Mongil at the far post three minutes after the half-hour mark, before the flag was raised for offside against the defender. The second half was much the same, with the visitors controlling more of the ball and the hosts waiting to respond.
Adrian Luna missed a free kick in the 53rd minute, giving the Blasters an opportunity to test the goalie. Suresh Wangjam’s attempt from outside the box sailed through traffic and caused Gill to palm behind for a corner at full stretch around the hour mark.
The Blasters surged higher up the pitch in the last quarter. But however, the Bengaluru FC defence held its form to block assaults. In the 83rd minute, Dimitrios Diamantakos got his team’s first shot at goal. But Sandhu handled his header with ease as the game entered extra time.
In the opening minute of extra time, Rahul KP tried his luck from a distance, but Luna diverted his shot, which went just inches wide at the far post. Bengaluru FC immediately reacted at the other end, with Bruno Ramires getting his head to a corner but sending it over the bar.
In the seventh minute of extra time, Chhetri’s fast free kick found the back of the net. The Blasters although forfeited the match in protest of the judgement, and Bengaluru FC was granted the victory.
Bengaluru FC has progressed to the next round of the Hero ISL playoffs. The Blues will next face League Shield winners Mumbai City FC. It will be a two-leg semi-final on March 7 and 12, beginning with an away trip.
Bengaluru FC starting XI
Gurpreet Sandhu (GK) (C), Sandesh Jhingan, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Roshan Naorem, Prabir Das, Rohit Kumar, Javier Hernandez, Suresh Wangjam, Bruno Silva, Roy Krishna, Siva Narayanan are the Bengaluru FC starting XI.
Kerala Blasters FC starting XI
Prabhsukhan Gill (GK), Jessel Carneiro (C), Nishu Kumar, Victor Mongil, Marko Leskovic, Vibin Mohanan, Jeakson Singh, Adrian Luna, Danish Farooq, Dimitrios Diamantakos, Rahul Kannoly Praveen are the Kerala Blasters FC starting XI.
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