I-League heavyweights Mohun Bagan started out strong and drew first blood late in the first half to take the lead, courtesy Dipanda Dicka's goal.
However, despite going 1-0 down in the first half and losing Nishu Kumar with a red card in the second, Albert Roca's men showed great character to turn around the fixture and win it comprehensively. Miku made all the difference in the scoreline after scoring a hat-trick to guide BFC over the rope.
With the win Benagulu have now booked their finals berth and will take on East Bengal in the summit clash on April 20.
90+2' Goooaaall!! Mohun Bagan on the attack and a ball for Dicka into the box who hits it straight to Gurpreet but the shot somehow creeps into the net.
This time the skipper gets on the scoresheet. Suni Chhetri with a shot right out of the top drawer as he curls past Shilton Paul at the far post from the edge of the penalty box!
The final nail in the coffin for the Green and Maroon army as BFC win a penalty following Rana Gharami's poor tackle on UDanta Singh. Miku behind deadball.
80' Nikhil Kadam whips one deep into the box and finds Kinowaki. The Japanese try to volley it but can't generate enough power as Gurpreet collects it comfortably.
76' We reach the final quarter of the game. MB growing restless in their pursuit for their equalizer, especially with Bengaluru exposing very little in their defence.
73' Long ball from from Green and Maroon midfield for Akram Moghrabi but the ball is too hard as it goes for a goal kick. Cooling break for the second half
It's goal number 2 for Miku. The Venezuelan is brought down at the edge of the box and BFC take quick free kick. Toni plays it to Miku in space as he makes a similar finish into the far post to put the Blues in the front for the first time in the match.
62' Gooooaaall!! It's all back to square one as BFC level terms. Udanta with a clever flick inside to box to find Miku who makes a splendid finish into the bottom of the net.
59' Despite being a man down, it's Bengaluru with most of the attack right now, as Miku is brought down in the penalty box. The referee however deems it to be a goal-kick.
MB, give the ball away cheaply and it's Sunil on the ball now. He gers into the box and lines up for his shot. But the shot is straight at the defender. Sunil takes the ricochet and tries to loop the ball over the keeper but the keeper collects easily.
49' Red Card!! Nikhil Kadam finds himself in a one on one position at the halfway mark as he races towards goal but is unfairly brought down by Nishu Kumar from behind. Ref pulls out the red card as he was the last defender!
Bengaluru started out strong but MB grew with the game, eventually taking the lead late in the first half, courtesy Dipanda Dicka's calm finish. With only a goal to negate, Albert Roca's men is expected to come all guns blazing in the second half as they aim to overturn the scoreline and book their finals berth.
Can MB hold on to their lead or will BFC script a comeback?
41' Goooaaaaaalllll!!!! MB scores right on the brink of half time. Dipanda Dicka breaks the stalemate with a calm finish into the net off Akram Moghrabi's assist.
37' Udanta darts down the right and waits patiently for Khabra's overlap. Khabra swerves it in and Sunil meets it with his head. But the goalie can collect easily.
27' Water Break The ref blows the whistle for a cooling break as the players head to the sidelines. It's extremely hot today in Bhubaneswar with the temperature reading 46 degrees.
20' Boithang makes a nice move but the cross was not upto the mark but still finds Chhetri and he draws the ball back for Nishu Kumar but well defended by Yuta
Kadam fouled in the middle of the pitch as the ref stops play. Kinowaki spots Gurpreet is ahead of his mark and makes an ambitious attempt from the half field, but the shot lands on the roof of the net.
Alber Roca's men on the other end with a chance to go up. Miku makes a move and passes it on to Chhetri and he passes it on to Boithang whose shot finds the side netting.
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