Indian Super League Shield and Cup winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) beat Kerala Blasters 2-1 to enter the Super Cup semifinals in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. MBSG, fielding an all-Indian squad, aside from Portuguese defender Nuno Reis, scored as soon as in every half via Sahal Abdul Samad (twenty second minute) and Suhail Ahmad Bhat (51st). Sreekuttan MS (90 4) pulled one again for the Blasters, however it was too little, too late for the Kerala facet. Later within the day, FC Goa produced a sensational late comeback to defeat Punjab FC 2-1 and e-book a semifinal date with MBSG on Wednesday.
Punjab FC, who had taken the lead early within the second half via Ezequiel Vidal (57th), appeared set for a well-known win. However, two fast targets within the house of three minutes from Borja Herrera and Mohammed Yasir within the dying minutes turned the sport on its head, leaving Punjab heartbroken.
Earlier, the match between Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters started at a leisurely tempo, with each groups not committing many our bodies within the opposition half. After 20 minutes of no goal-mouth motion, Mohun Bagan SG churned out the opener with their first significant assault.
With lightning footwork, Salahudheen Adnan twisted and turned previous left-back Naocha Singh and slipped a cross into the six-yard field. Getting on the tip of it was Samad, who swiftly evaded Ruivah Hormipam’s problem and dinked the ball over goalkeeper Sachin Suresh to make it 1-0 within the twenty second minute.
From then on Kerala Blasters grew determined for the equaliser. Noah Sadaoui lower in from the best and took a shot from distance, however he did not get sufficient elevation, and the ball landed straight into the gloves of MBSG goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh.
The Blasters grew to become more and more harmful from corners. In the thirtieth minute, after enjoying a one-two with Vibin Mohanan, Sadaoui drilled a low cross that was cleared by Dippendu Biswas.
Later, from one other nook, Hormipam’s cross-turned-shot nearly landed into the highest nook, however Dheeraj did nicely to tip it over.
In the added time of first half, Mohammed Aimen was ate up the left wing by Vibin. The midfielder lower in from the left earlier than seeing his right-footer swerve over the bar.
Before Kerala Blasters may even get into gear for the second half, Mohun Bagan SG struck one other aim.
Ashique Kuruniyan created the second aim from the left flank. The India worldwide skipped previous Hormipam and squared an inch-perfect ball into the six-yard field for Bhat to information it into the web with ease.
The remainder of the second half was all about Dheeraj Singh conserving the Kerala Blasters forwards at bay, however it wasn’t till after Jesus Jimenez missed a few gilt-edged possibilities — half-volleying over the bar within the sixty fifth minute after which curling it huge of the far put up after going clear via on aim within the 67th.
Three minutes later, Dheeraj palmed over substitute Kwame Peprah’s right-footed shot from a slender angle.
With simply 5 minutes to go, Peprah tried to arrange Jimenez with a low cross into the six-yard field, however the Spaniard could not type his ft out shortly sufficient and missed it utterly.
Dheeraj once more made himself massive to disclaim Peprah from six yards earlier than Ebindas’s try on the rebound was cleared off the road by Amandeep.
The Mohun Bagan custodian was lastly overwhelmed within the 94th minute when Jimenez slipped a neat ball for Sreekuttan on the best. The substitute thrashed it over Dheeraj and into the again of the web, however it solely turned out to be a comfort strike.
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