The former ISL champions Bengaluru FC (BFC) held their nerve to beat the season’s league winners, Mumbai City FC (MCFC) in the second leg of the 2022-23 Indian Super League (ISL) semi-final at the Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru.
MCFC were the favourites to win the ISL trophy this year and was crushed out in the semi-finals, but they have won the league shield as they finished first on the table by the end of the league games.
BFC had a very slow start this season, lost the games at the start of the season; but bounced back with an unbeaten streak and managed to get a spot in the playoffs. They defeated Kerala Blasters in the quarterfinals and are now the league toppers in the semi.
Kanteerava was a full house and the home team didn’t disappoint the fans. With the 1-0 advantage after the first leg in Mumbai, the home team was one step ahead at the start of the game. BFC scored the first goal in the fifth minute and had a 2-0 aggregate lead.
MCFC levelled the score and then went on to level the aggregate. The game went on to extra time and then into the penalties. After 16 penalties were scored, Sandhu saved Mehtab Singh’s penalty and then Sandesh Jhingan scored the winning spot-kick. The home side entered their third ISL finals after a 9-8 win on penalties. BFC will face either ATK Mohun Bagan or Hyderabad FC in the finals.
