XtraTime Web Desk: It was captain fantastic Sunil Chhetri who scored the first of his hat-trick in the 13th minute. Udanta got the better of his marker on the right and delivered a low cross across the face of the goal that Lalit Thapa punched into the path of Chhetri at the far post. All he needed was an easy diving header into the net to make it 1-0 in favour of the Blues.
Neroca scored the equalizing goal in the injury time of the first half. It was Pritam who scored the equalizer. Williams’ free-kick from the left was straight at Gurpreet who spilled the ball into the path of Pritam who calmly slotted home in his second try. A goalkeeping error which seemed to be unexpected to the standard he has set for himself.
Chhetri scored his second in the 55th minute. A first-time lob over the NEROCA defence released Chhetri who was waiting on the shoulder of Gouramangi. The Indian skipper raced past the defender into the box and chipped the ball over Thapa to make it 2-1 in favour of Bengaluru FC.
Chhetri completed his hat-rick in the dying minutes of the game. Dovale held onto the ball at the edge of the box and released Chhetri to his left. The skipper used Gouramangi as a wall to bend a low shot into the corner of the net to put the final nail on the coffin for the BFC side.
They will play Mohun Bagan in the second semi final 17th April.