Kolkata: Mohammedan Sporting edged out FC Bengaluru United 4-2 in the first semi-final of the Durand Cup at the Salt-Lake Stadium on Monday. In front of their home-crowd, the Black Panther got early in opening few seconds as Bengaluru’s Pedro Manzi slotted past goalkeeper Zothanamawia.
The hosts though managed to remain untamed and kept moving the ball swiftly before getting their equalizer as Marcus Joseph found the net in the eighth minute.
Although Faisal Ali doubled the lead in the 37th minute, both the side were happy to play through short passes. The lead could have been tripled had Faisal managed to covert Nikola Stoanovic’s floating delivery into the box as his side went ahead at the break.
Faisal had multiple scoring opportunities throughout the game but was unable to finish them off. Kunzang Bhutia, the Bengaluru custodian kept his side in the making crucial saves in both halves. Stoanovic, Mohammedan’s Serbian trickster had a stellar outing and was combining well with Faisal creating chances.
Kinshuk Debnath revived the hopes of the Bengaluru hitting a thumping volley from a corner which stretched the game into the extra-time but were left stranded when Manzi were given marching orders in the added minutes.
Substitute Brandon settled the nerves in the extra time with a superb individual effort before Stoanovic put the icing on the cake converting his spot-kick late in the second-half of the extra-time sealing their place in the final on October 3.
