Sunil Chhetri’s Heroics in Stoppage Time Fire Bengaluru FC Into ISL Final

Bengaluru FC stormed into their record fourth Indian Super League (ISL) final after an electrifying semi-final tie against FC Goa, thanks to a dramatic last-minute goal from their talisman, Sunil Chhetri. Despite losing the second leg 2-1 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Sunday, their 2-0 advantage from the first leg carried them through with a 3-2 win on aggregate.

FC Goa came out all guns blazing, showing their intent early. Boris Singh launched a wild effort in the 7th minute, followed by a missed opportunity from Iker Guarrotxena moments later. The Gaurs were hungry to overturn the deficit, peppering the Bengaluru goal with attacks throughout the first half. Dejan Drazic tried his luck in the 13th minute, but his effort lacked the power to trouble Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Despite the pressure, the first half ended goalless.

The breakthrough finally came for FC Goa in the 49th minute. Borja Herrera stepped up to take a free-kick from the edge of the penalty box and curled it expertly into the bottom left corner, breathing life into the home crowd and his teammates.

Goa continued to press hard, with chances falling to Ayush Dev Chhetri and Guarrotxena, but Bengaluru’s defense, led by Sandhu, stood tall. Their persistence paid off in the 89th minute when Armando Sadiku met an Aakash Sangwan cross with a precise header to level the tie on the night and raise hopes for a remarkable comeback.

But Bengaluru FC wasn’t done yet.

Refusing to sit back, the Blues launched a late assault. A corner in stoppage time proved decisive. Namgyal Bhutia delivered a perfect ball into the box, where none other than Sunil Chhetri rose above the rest to head it home with authority. The goal silenced the Fatorda crowd and sealed Bengaluru’s ticket to the final in sensational fashion.

With Chhetri once again proving why he’s the heartbeat of Indian football, Bengaluru FC now eyes ISL glory in the upcoming final.

News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”