Kolkata : Mohammedan Sporting finished as group A toppers with a 1-1 draw against Bengaluru FC. Pritam Singh gave Mohammedan Sporting an early lead which was equalled by Siva Sakthi at the added time of the second half.
Both the teams started with a positive attitude, combining attacks and defense. In the 12th minute Mohammedan Sporting got the opener. It was the culmination of a wonderful team-move down the left flank, from the space left open by a constantly overlapping Prabir Das. Faslu started it with his run finding Abhash Thapa in space to his left. The midfielder raced in and cut it back in for Sk. Faisal to come rushing in and take a first stab at it with his left foot. Pritam Singh was first to pounce on the rebound off Bengaluru FC keeper Lara and slotted home from close.
Mohammedan Sporting finished the half holding on to their one goal lead and were also the better side in the first 45-minutes.
BFC coach Grayson brought on Leon Augustine at the break in place of Javi which brought the pace in
attack and on the left wing.
In the 69th minute, Sunil Chhetri got a great chance to equalize but Zothanmawia, brought off
a stellar save to deny the talisman.
The game then changed dramatically when Abhishek Halder was sent off in the 72nd minute for a second bookable offence. Mohammedan Sporting were down to 10-men and Bengaluru FC began the charge.
Siva Sakthi, got his goal in the end in the first minute of added time. Substitute Namgiyal Bhutia send a wonderful cross from the right flank since coming on. This time he floated in a corner from that flank and the tall Jovanovic headed in down onto the edge of the box from the far post.
FULL TIME in Kolkata where the spoils are shared between the Blues and the Black Panthers. #MDSBFC #WeAreBFC pic.twitter.com/hAzX8peJW6
— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) September 2, 2022
Prabir Halder reacts with striking a right footer which struck Leon Augustine away from the path of goal and deflected inwards in front of Siva Sakthi. The Bengaluru FC striker’s shot on the turn thundered the
crossbar and fell inside the goal before coming back.
However both the teams have qualified for the knockout stage of the 131st Durand Cup. Mohammedan Sporting will face Kerala Blasters in the quarter finals, whereas Bengaluru FC will go against Odisha FC.
Mohammedan Sporting – 1 (Pritam Singh 13’) Bengaluru FC – 1 (Siva Sakthi 90+1)
