Bengaluru qualifies for Super Cup 2023 semi-final as Sreenidi Deccan crashes out after first loss

Bengaluru became the second team to qualify for the 2023 Super Cup after drawing with Kerala Blasters 1-1 at the EMS Stadium in Kozhikode in their Group A encounter. In the other game of the group being played simultaneously, Roundglass Punjab beat Sreenidi Deccan 1-0 to dash the latter’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the competition. 

Roy Krishna’s goal enough to power Bengaluru to a 1-1 draw 

Bengaluru fielded themselves in a 4-3-3 formation with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu donning the gloves. Sandesh Jhingan, Bruno Ramires, Naorem Roshan Singh, and Namgyal Bhutia formed the back four with Rohit Kumar, Javi Hernandez, and Suresh Wangjam playing as the midfield trio. Udanta Singh, Roy Krishna, and Sunil Chhetri played as the front three. 

Kerala Blasters played in a 4-4-2 formation with Sachin Suresh guarding the sticks. Muhammed Saheef, Victor Mongil, Marko Leskovic, and Nishu Kumar formed the back four with Danish Farooq, Vibin Mohanan, Saurav Mondal, and Rahul KP playing as the midfield quartet. Apostolos Giannou and Dimitrios Diamantakos played in an all-overseas strike partnership as the Blasters hoped to end their tournament on a high. 

Roshan took the first shot of the game in the 7th minute from outside the box but Suresh collected it comfortably. Two minutes later, the Manipuri defender swung in a vicious cross from a corner but Jhingan’s untimely header flew inches above the crossbar. 

Bengaluru finally broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Javi sent Krishna through on goal in a counter-attack. Although his initial shot was saved, the rebound fell kindly towards him and the Fijian made no mistake in burying the ball into the net. 

Kerala showed signs of intent in the 29th minute when Diamantakos’ cross from the left flank was headed away by Saurav. In the dying minutes of the first half, Vibin unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box but Gurpreet palmed it away. 

Kerala almost equalized in the 50th minute when Diamantakos’ shot from Mongil’s pass hit the target. However, Gurpreet responded with a reflex save to keep the ball at bay. A minute later, Krishna whipped in a cross towards Chhetri at the centre but Sachin timed his jump to save the opposition captain’s header. 

In the 66th minute, Gurpreet kept out Nishu’s shot from inside the box as Kerala oozed confidence with the home fans cheering them on. Their persistence finally paid off in the 77th minute when Diamantakos angled in Hormipam’s cross from inside the box. 

Although Kerala equalized the proceedings, they were knocked out of the competition owing to their loss against Sreenidi Deccan. With five points from three games, Bengaluru is through to the semi-final.

RoundGlass Punjab knock Sreenidi Deccan out with a slim 1-0 win 

RoundGlass Punjab celebrate after scoring a goal against Sreenidi Deccan 

Roundglass Punjab entered the field in a 4-4-2 formation with Kiran Limbu guarding the sticks. Suresh Meitei, Hmingthanmawia, Khaiminthang Lhungdim, and Mohammed Salah formed the back four. Juan Nellar, Freddy Lallawmawma, Krishnananda Singh, and Brandon Vanlalremdika played as the four midfielders in the middle of the park. Juan Mera and Luka Majcen played as the two strikers at the top of the pitch.

Sreenidi Deccan played themselves in a 3-4-3 formation with Aryan Lamba donning the gloves. Bijay Chhetri, Asheer Akhtar, and Arijit Bagui played as the three defenders in the back. Phalguni Singh, Mayakkanan, Rosenberg Gabriel, and Stanislas Ankira were deployed as the four midfielders. Faysal Shayesteh, David Castaneda, and Rilwan Hassan played as the front three strikers. 

The first chance of the game fell to Sreenidi in the 33rd minute when Castaneda squared the ball towards Hassan. However, the Nigerian’s first-time effort was saved by Punjab’s goalkeeper. Four minutes before half-time, Hmingthanmawia’s header sneaked past the palms of Sreenidi Deccan’s goalkeeper to bulge the net. 

Sreenidi tried their best to level the proceedings with substitute Ramhlunchhunga firing in a shot from outside the box in the 86th minute. However, Kiran Limbu stretched himself to prevent the ball from crossing the goal line. 

Bengaluru will square off against Jamshedpur at the EMS Stadium in Kozhikode on Friday for a place in the finals. With the elimination of Sreenidi Deccan, the competition draws a curtain for all the I-League clubs to go one step ahead.