Durand Cup 2021 Semifinal, Goa shoots out Bengaluru, sets up title clash with Mohammedan Sporting

Bengaluru, September 29: FC Goa beat Bengaluru FC 7-6 in a marathon penalty shoot-out to enter the final of the Durand Cup 2021 where they will take on Kolkata outfit Mohammedan Sporting.

In a thrilling semifinal held at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Wednesday (September 29), the two teams were level at 2-2 at the end of regulation time and extra time forcing the penalties.

Earlier in the first semifinal, century-old local favourites Mohammedan Sporting had overcome a stiff challenge from FC Bengaluru United to make it to the final of the 130th edition of the tournament.

Durand Cup 2021 Semifinal, FC Goa vs Bengaluru FC: Preview

The final of the oldest football tournament in the country will be held on Sunday (October 3) at 6pm IST.

With the tournament organisers allowing 50 per cent attendance for the semis, it was a spectacle with spectators to be hold as on Wednesday, at the famed Salt Lake Stadium (as it was known earlier), the Gaurs held their heads high.

It is for the second successive time that Kolkata is hosting the event after the premier tournament moved from its traditional base New Delhi in 2019.

Kolkata will now be home for India's as well as Asia's tournament for the next five more years.

The tournament saw 16 teams, including five Indian Super League (ISL) clubs, divided into four groups with the the top two making it to the quarterfinals.

The all ISL semifinal at Durand Cup 2021 on Wednesday played in front of fans was en edge of the seat thriller right from the whistle.

Captain comes handy for the Gaurs as FC Goa captain Edu Bedia bags the Man of the Match award in today's dramatic second Semifinal 🔥🤩⚽#DurandCup2021 #130thedition #Legacy #Kolkata #Football #footballtournament #aiff #cherrytree #WeAreBFC #forcagoa #RiseAgain #FCGBFC pic.twitter.com/FHSPtiOV0I

— Durand Cup (@thedurandcup) September 29, 2021

FC Goa skipper Edu Bedia was adjudged player of the match.

Bengaluru FC opened the scoring, with Sivashakti Narayanan giving them a lead as early as the opening minute.

FC Goa levelled through Devendra Murgaokar in the sixth minute and after the change of ends, took the lead through substitute Redeeem Tlang in the 71st.

However, Sivashakti scored for Bengaluru FC again in the 83rd minute to help them draw and forcing the game to extra time.

In the 30 minutes of extra time, though Goa dominated proceedings, they could never could muster a real goal scoring opportunity against a defiant looking Bengaluru.

However, with jerseys sopping in sweat and tired legs, the match marched on to penalties.

The horrors from previous penalty shootouts paid the Goa faithful an early visit when Tlang, taking Gaurs' second spot kick, saw Lara Sharma save his effort.

It was, however, Naveem Kumar in the FC Goa goal, who would have the last laugh.

The teams were were tied 4-4 after the tie breakers before the sudden-death came into play.

After both sides saw one of their attempts saved during the first five attempts in the spot kicks, the deadlock was finally broken in the eighth attempt when Naveen stopped Damaitphang Lyngdoh's shot to bring cheers to the Gaurs camp.

The wrath of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic meant that tournament was played without fans till Wednesday before the organisers decided to throw the gate open for public with 50 per cent capacity and it was indeed worth a wait for those who thronged to one of the oldest and historic stadiums in the country.