Bengaluru FC edged out Kerala Blasters 1-0 to book their place in the semi-finals of the Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Friday.
Former Blaster Pereyra Diaz was the difference for Bengaluru as he netted the only goal of the match.
It was always going to be a cagey affair, given the recent history between the sides but on Friday the match got off to a cracking start. A long ball right after Bengaluru FC’s kick-off was directed at Jorge Pereyra Diaz down the middle. The keeper Som Kumar too came out of his line to collect but both players crashed into one another and the Kerala Blasters youngster had to be subbed off after medical intervention.
It was the Blasters who were the first to get a chance in the fifth minute when Noah Sadaoui escaped his man and sent in a darting cross from the left flank as Adrian Luna got a first-time shot away. His effort though was not on target.
Alberto Noguera did try his luck from a free-kick in the 11th minute but just four minutes later Bengaluru fans thought their side had a penalty. Noguera’s through ball piercing the Blasters’ defence had a little too much weight on the pass as Pereyra Diaz ran after it. Sachin Suresh, the replacement keeper, rushed out to collect only for the former Blaster to divert the path of the ball and was subsequently brought down by the lunging keeper. The referee though saw no foul play.
As the game rolled on, either team packed the mid-field to wrestle control of possession but the referee’s indulgence caused multiple challenges to fly, shirts tugged and tackles to come in late.
Amidst the pressure in the middle of the pitch, the action though sprouted in flashes of individual brilliance. A deft touch, a slight sway of the shoulders, off the likes of Noah and Pereyra were on. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sachin stood tall in defiance at either end.
With the half-time whistle round the corner, Pereyra Diaz’s effort from the edge of the box was straight at the keeper Sachin, who could only manage to palm it away. Noguera tried to latch onto the loose ball but defenders intervened at the last moment.
After the restart, it was Bengaluru though who nearly scored. Shivaldo mauraded down the right, and cut back a precise pass which evaded both Pereyra and Sivasakthi.
Pereyra Diaz had another golden chance to score the opener in the 65th minute. Another long ball and the forward was almost through on goal but Sachin came off his lines as Diaz ended up ruffling the side-netting.
Sunil Chhetri was introduced and soon after the man appeared determined to get his side over the line, dropping in between the defence, and running the channel all the while operating from a deeper role.
With the tie strolling meekly toward penalties as either side looked patchy in front of goal, it was the Indian football legend who had the most telling touch of the night as deep into stoppage time. Fanai Lalremtkuanga’s corner in the fifth minute of added time was poked devilishly towards the far post as Pereyra Diaz’s side-kick volleyed the ball into the back of the net.
Bengaluru sealed the win and their spot in the semi-final of the 133rd edition of the Durand Cup with practically the last kick of the game as the Manjapadda faithful ended the night wondering what if.
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