Brazilian defender Alan Costa scored the winning goal for Bengaluru FC to help his side win their maiden Durand Cup title after beating heavyweights Mumbai City FC 2-1 in the summit clash at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Sunday, September 19.
Youngster Sivasakthi capped off a brilliant Durand Cup campaign, finishing as the tournament's top scorer for his club by opening the scoring in the 10th minute. It was a long ball delivered from the deep by Jovanovic, which put Sengalese defender Mourtada Fall under pressure with Siva on his shoulder. Fall was outfoxed by the bounce and Siva pounced on it with a measured chip over the keeper.
But it did not take long for Mumbai City FC to get a grip on the game. Lallianzuala Chhangte had the first chance for the Islanders in the 17th minute but got the equalizer at the half-hour mark when Sandesh Jhingan gave away a free-kick in a dangerous zone.
Ahmed Jahouh played Greg Stewart onside, and the star went on one of his runs, shooting a left-footed grounder towards goal which goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu fended off. Apuia was at hand though and tapped home the rebound with ease.
The Blues then almost went ahead in the 38th minute, when a rebound off a Roshan Singh corner fell into the feet of Roy Krishna. The Fijian shot towards goal, but Chhangte made a miraculous goal-line save. Vinit Rai then had a chance after being played on by Stewart but he shot the ball over from close range.
The same intensity continued in the second half. Five minutes after the resumption, Jahouh delivered a long ball that fell for Chhangte. He did well to get away from two Bengaluru defenders, but with just the keeper to beat, the tournament's highest scorer shot over.
BFC then got ahead for the second and final time in the game, when off a Sunil Chhetri corner aimed at the far post, Costa jumped the highest and nailed a header into the back of the Mumbai net.
The most notable chance for Mumbai in the second half came through Spanish midfielder Ripoll in the 77th minute when he went on a solo run from midfield and unleashed a booming drive which beat Gurpreet but struck the left upright and came back.
Chhetri also had a couple of golden opportunities to score, once in the 69th minute, when his left-footed strike missed the target and then again in the 87th when he was one-on-one with the keeper, but Lachenpa was up to it and brought off a great save.
With six minutes of time added on, Mumbai did give it one final shot and Greg Stewart came close in the 94th minute, but his effort was also just wide.
(Photo Credits: Twitter/@bengalurufc)
