Bengaluru FC became the champions of the Durand Cup 2022 after they edged past Mumbai City FC 2-1 in the final at Salt Lake today. Siva and Alan Costa were the scorers for the winning team while Apuia pulled one back for the Mumbai side. Bengaluru won their maiden title in the Durand Cup history.
Siva Sakthi (10th minute) and Brazilian Alan Costa (61st) scored for the winners while Apuia got the lone goal for the Mumbai side in an entertaining match.
Mumbai City FC 1-2 Bengaluru FC
The Blues took an early lead through a fifth tournament goal from Siva Sakthi. The long ball was delivered from the deep by Jovanovic, which put Mourtada Fall under pressure with Siva on his shoulder. The Senegalese defender was in the end foxed by the bounce and Siva pounced on it with a measured chip over the keeper.
After Chhangte had the first chance for the Islanders in the 17th minute, they got the equalizer at the half-hour mark when Sandesh Jhingan gave away a free-kick in a dangerous zone. The Blues then almost went ahead in the 38th minute, when, off a Roshan Singh corner, a rebound fell for Roy Krishna and he shot towards goal, but Chhangte brought off a miraculous goal-line save.
The game maintained its intensity in the second half. Five minutes after resumption, Jahouh delivered a measured long ball which fell for Chhangte who did well to get away from two BFC defenders, but with just the keeper to beat, the tournament’s highest scorer shot over.
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.
For 38-year-old Chhetri, who is in the twilight of his career, the Durand Cup was the only missing from his trophy cabinet but after Sunday’s clash, his trophy cabinet does seem complete. For Bengaluru FC, who have won all major Indian competitions since coming into existence in 2013, this is the first Durand Cup victory.
