Xtra Time Web Desk: Bengaluru FC on Saturday came from behind to defeat Army Green 3-2 in their Durand Cup quarterfinal, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. Lallawmkima PC (9’) gave the away side the lead in the first half, before goals from Wungngayam Muirang (20’), Leon Augustine (46’) and Namgyal Bhutia (74’) put the Blues ahead. Vibin TV (89’) pulled one back at the end, but Bengaluru held on to win the game.
Army side took an early lead, when Lallawmkima scored from the spot after he was brought down by Ajith Kumar in the box. The Blues leveled the score in the 20th minute, when Leon won a free kick on the right flank. Muirang’s effort beat the wall and the ’keeper, to make it 1-1.
Buoyed by the equaliser, the Blues began to make frequent inroads into the final third. They did manage to take the lead at the start of second half. Leon, who had sparked the comeback against Indian Navy on Tuesday, escaped his markers and, with the ’keeper charging forward, chipped the ball into an empty net to make it 2-1.
The Blues got their third goal of the game when Biswa found substitute Bhutia in the box, and the forward shot low into the far corner to put Bengaluru 3-1 up. Akashdeep Singh, who had an earlier effort blocked by Sarath, saw his shot deflect off the ’keeper and bounce off the far post. Army Green won another penalty a minute before stoppage time after Robin Yadav brought down Lallawmkima and Vibin TV sent Lara the wrong way to make it 3-2.
The Blues held on to their lead to win the game and seal their spot in the semifinals, where they face FC Goa, on September 29, at the same venue.