BENGALURU FC ADVANCE TO HERO SUPER CUP QUARTERFINALS DEFEATING GOKULAM KERALA FC

01 Apr 2018

AIFF Media Team

Bengaluru FC 2 ( 70' Miku; 90+5' Udanta Singh)

Gokulam Kerala FC 1 (33' Henry Kisseka)

BHUBANESWAR: The second day of the Hero Super Cup 2018 saw Hero ISL 2018 Runners-Up Bengaluru FC seal their quarterfinal spot in the dying seconds of the game defeating seventh-placed Hero I-League outfit Gokulam Kerala FC 2-1. While the Hero I-League outfit showcased some great football taking an early lead, it was Bengaluru FC who made way to the quarterfinals through two amazing strikes from Miku (70’) & Udanta Singh (90+5’). Henry Kisseka (33’) scored the lone goal for Gokulam Kerala FC.

The first half began with Kerala Gokulam FC pressing hard. However, it were the Hero ISL 2018 Runners-Up Bengaluru FC who had the first clear chance to take a lead in the 11^th minute, when Sunil Chhetri failed to find the back of the net, thanks to a brilliant save from the Gokulam Kerala FC goalkeeper Nikhil Barnard. Thereafter a series of attacks plied on both sides yielding no results.

However, a brilliant pass in the 33^rd minute from Gokulam Kerala FC’s Macedonian forward Hristijan Denkovski to Henry Kisseka gave the Hero I-League outfit a crucial lead in the game. Bengaluru FC thereafter were constantly pressing hard on Gokulam Kerala FC but some brilliant interceptions and a solid defence coupled with some error-free goalkeeping barred Bengaluru FC of an equalizer in the first 45 minutes of the game.

The second half began with Bengaluru FC taking the lead to the attack and they nearly scored one in the 50^th minute through Subhashis Bose, but the ball hit the post eluding the Hero ISL Runners-up a chance to equalize. Bengaluru FC were a refreshed side in the second half showcasing their quality consistently. Their continued effort finally yielded results when Miku scored in the 70^th minute through a brilliant backheel pass from Udanta beating Gokulam Kerala FC goalkeeper Bernard.

Thereafter it was Bengaluru FC dominating the field pressing high up in the attack with large numbers to take the lead and their efforts finally brought results through a brilliant goal from Udanta Singh (90+5’) in the dying seconds of the injury time. Bengaluru FC made their way to the quarterfinals of the Hero Super Cup 2018 defeating Gokulam Kerala FC 2-1.

Udanta Singh of Bengaluru FC was adjudged the Hero Of the Match.