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Only just a little over 7000 were in attendance to witness it in flesh, but Bengaluru FC entered their names in the Indian football history books when they became the first club to win both the I-League and Indian Super League titles.
After losing the final to southern rivals Chennaiyin FC in their debut campaign in the competition, Carles Cuadrat’s men pulled off what Albert Roca’s team couldn’t pull off last season. They defeated FC Goa 1-0 at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday night in front of a boisterous crowd to lift the coveted trophy.
Neither side played the attractive brand of they have been known for, but the game did have huge moments, from novice defender Saviour Gama replacing injured Mandar Rao Dessai and both teams entering a scuffle following a red-card incident.
Much like most other finals, drama was aplenty in this game, and here are five talking points from Bengaluru’s monumental win over FC Goa.
#1 Both sides’ attack lacked punch
The teams uncharacteristically played a physical game as they committed far more fouls than they’ve been seen doing through the season. Players could be seen falling to the ground clutching their legs at regular intervals. As a result, either side’s attack lacked punch. Hardly did they manage to find a rhythm.
While the travelling Bengaluru FC and FC Goa fans created a vibrant atmosphere, fans online labelled the first 90 minutes “boring” and grieved over the fact that Goa and Bengaluru, known for their attacking brand of football, proved shadows of their league-stage selves.
There, indeed, were moments when the attackers, including Jackichand Singh, Udanta Singh, Edu Bedia, Brandon Fernandes, Ferran Corominas and Miku, appeared to break down defences. However, they fell prey to the opposition’s offside trap more often than not. While the attackers failed to create any impact, the defenders, including Nishu Kumar, Juanan and Mourtada Fall all impressed heavily.
#2 Both sides failed to make chances count
Even though either team’s attack didn’t play to their fullest potential, they did create quite a few goal-scoring opportunities only for the strikers to miss chance after chance.
The biggest chance of the game came nine minutes before the final whistle when Xisco Hernandez teed Miku up following a Nishu Kumar cross from the right flank. The Spanish forward’s left-footed poke, however, only hit the bar before Lenny Rodrigues controlled the rebound.
In the first half, Udanta Singh and Sunil Chhetri both had found him in goal-scoring positions — the latter rather inadvertently — but superb goalkeeping from Goa’s Naveen Kumar kept him at bay.
FC Goa, who’d scored 41 goals in 20 games heading to the final, did have chances to find the net themselves through Jackichand Singh, Ahmed Jahouh, Brandon Fernandes and Ferran Corominas. However, none could apply the finishing touch, as a last-gasp Rahul Bheke decider left them lamenting the missed chances.
#3 Mourtada Fall stood like a wall
Mourtada Fall, despite his being believed to be error-prone, proved a wall against the Bengaluru FC attackers. Making 25 clearances, he proved the biggest reason why Miku and co. didn’t test Naveen Kumar as much as they could have. Plus, he pulled off four tackles, two clearances and two blocks.
When Sergio Lobera brought on 21-year-old Saviour Gama, who’d started only a solitary game this season, for injured FC Goa captain Mandar Rao Dessai, it looked as though it was only a matter of time before Bengaluru wingers assisted Sunil Chhetri or Miku. However, the 31-year-old Senegal defender put in a shift at the back, helping out the Goa-born youngster whenever he was outsmarted by the in-form opposition attackers.
However, there was only so much he could do after the team had lost their fulcrum in Ahmed Jahouh as 10-men Goa conceded an unstoppable header through Rahul Bheke in the dying minutes.
#4 Ahmed Jahouh’s red card
It seemed an equally-contested game until Ahmed Jahouh’s red card.
The Moroccan midfielder controlled the tempo, making 106 touches from the middle of the park, winning five freekicks and often looking to set up FC Goa forwards through slick lobs. He also proved a solid goal threat when he made late runs into the attacking third.
Defence-wise, he proved even more pivotal as he helped Mourtada Fall and Carlos Pena, essentially acting as the centre-back at times. In fact, he made 13 tackles and 11 clearances and was crucial to foiling Bengaluru FC’s attack.
However, toward the end of the first half of extra time, an incident, also involving Miku, saw him sent off. While it hardly looked malicious, the referee found his “kick” to Miku’s stomach dangerous enough to give him his marching orders. It didn’t take Bengaluru a lot of time after the sending off to break the deadlock.
The man who’d been pivotal to their reaching the final ended up costing them the title. The Goa players and staffers ensured they displayed their unhappiness over refereeing decisions both after his sending off and the final whistle.
#5 Bengaluru FC buried their demons
Bengaluru FC finished atop the Indian Super League standings last season only to lose the final to southern rivals Chennaiyin FC at their own backyard, Sree Kanteerava Stadium, in their debut campaign. This season, too, they finished as league leaders and were looking to ensure their choking in the final doesn’t become a trend.
When they lost 2-1 to NorthEast United FC on the road in the first leg of the semi-finals, not many expected them to go all the way. It didn’t help that they were locking horns with everyone’s second team and the underdogs in NorthEast. They overcame their first-leg deficit under controversial circumstances to book their place in the final against FC Goa, yet another team neutrals have always rooted for.
With Goa thrashing third-placed Mumbai City FC 5-2 over two legs to reach the final, many tagged them favourites. Bengaluru, however, managed to overcome their demons as Mumbai-born Rahul Bheke scored a header past hapless Naveen Kumar to crown them the champions in only their second season in the competition.
