Cuttack: Bengaluru FC dug deep to play out a 1-1 draw with Mohun Bagan, a result that was enough for Albert Roca’s men to set up a semifinal clash with League champions Aizawl FC in the Federation Cup, in Cuttack, on Friday.
Alwyn George’s opener meant the Blues had a lead that would have taken them atop Group B but for Sony Norde’s equaliser which meant the Blues finish in second place behind the Mariners.
Roca named a starting XI with a fair number of changes from the team that played the first two games, with Len Doungel, Alwyn George, Arminder Singh, Salam Ranjan and Lenny Rodrigues getting a look in.
Earlier, a late goal from Shillong Lajong’s Samuel Lalmuanpuia inflicted a 3-2 loss on DSK Shivajians. The result meant that a point would take Roca’s men through to the semifinals. Lajong played with a man down for the after Vishal Kaith was sent off in the 75th minute.
Strikes by Alen Deory (49’) and Redeem Tlang (68’) for Lajong cancelled Halicharan Narzary’s second half double (64’, 86’). Samuel Lalmuanpuia then netted the winner in the dying embers (90+2') to give the Shillong outfit their first and only tournament win.
Bengaluru shot into the lead in the 11th minute when Alwyn, picked ahead of Udanta on the right, scored with a clinical left-foot finish, leaving Debjit Majumder no chance whatsoever.
The Blues could have doubled their lead only minutes later but skipper Sunil Chhetri saw his attempt bounce off the crossbar from a corner.
Bagan got on level terms soon after the restart when Norde, picked out Kean Lewis, bet one man and fired low past Amrinder’s left to make it 1-1 in the 50th minute.
Norde’s moment of individual brilliance apart, Bengaluru played like a team with a plan that wouldn’t give an inch to hold out for the draw against the Kolkata club.
