FC Goa won game and hearts, but fail to make ISL final

The drums never stopped beating, echoing through the electrifying atmosphere of the Fatorda Stadium, as FC Goa delivered a valiant performance, winning 2-1 against Bengaluru FC in the second leg of the ISL semi-final at home.

However, it wasn’t enough to overturn the 2-0 deficit from the first leg. Bengaluru advanced to the final with a 3-2 aggregate, thanks to Sunil Chhetri’s crucial goal in injury time that sealed Goa's fate.

The match kicked off with FC Goa showing relentless intensity, determined to turn the tie around. From the word go, they were on the front foot, flooding Bengaluru’s defence with relentless attacks.

Goa’s dominance was evident and by the 10th minute, Bengaluru looked under immense pressure. Dejan Drazic, in fine form, nearly broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, but his shot was comfortably saved by Bengaluru goalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu. Moments later, he squandered another golden opportunity, shooting wide when it seemed like a certain goal.

Despite Goa’s dominance, the scoreboard remained unchanged, with the first half ending 0-0.

YOUNG PROMISE: Ayush Dev Chhetri in action against Bengaluru FC on Sunday.

The first-half brilliance from Goa continued after the break. In the 48th minute, Borja Herrera stepped up to take a free kick from the edge of the box. He made no mistake, curling the ball into the back of the net to give FC Goa a 1-0 lead. The crowd erupted in , with hopes of an improbable comeback.

After that goal, FC Goa continued to pile on the pressure. A controversial offside call denied them a second goal, and Dejan’s powerful strike in the 65th minute was again saved by Gurpreet, who was proving to be Bengaluru’s hero. Despite Goa’s relentless attacks, he came up with some fine saves denying Goa the goals they needed.

In the dying minutes, FC Goa’s persistence paid off again. A brilliant cross from Aakash Sangwan found substitute Armando Sadiku, whose header beat Gurpreet to make it 2-0 on the night, levelling the aggregate at 2-2. The stadium was in raptures, and extra seemed inevitable.

However, just when it appeared that Goa had forced the game into extra time, Bengaluru struck a devastating blow. In the dying seconds of the second half, Sunil Chhetri’s brilliant header broke Goa fans' hearts. The goal sealed Bengaluru’s place in the final with a 3-2 aggregate win.

Despite the heartbreak, the FC Goa fans applauded their team, recognising the courage and skill displayed throughout the match. Goa may have lost the battle, but they played like champions, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of their supporters.

Bengaluru FC became the first team to qualify for the ISL 2024-25 final.