Bengaluru FC lift maiden Durand Cup

Kolkata: Bengaluru FC added yet another piece of silverware to an already impressive collection when they lifted the Durand Cup with a 2-1 victory over Mumbai City FC in the final at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday.
Sivasakthi Narayanan (11’) opened the scoring for Bengaluru early with a delightful take, before Apuia Ralte’s (30’) tap-in from close saw Mumbai draw level. But Alan Costa’s (61’) thumping header from a corner was enough to see Simon Grayson begin his reign as Bengaluru manager with a title.
Grayson made two changes to the side that took on Hyderabad FC in the semifinal as Sivasakthi replaced Rohit Kumar, while Alan Costa started ahead of Parag Shrivas at the back. Des Buckingham recalled the services of Apuia, while Greg Stewart and Lallianzuala Chhangte continued in attack.
Bengaluru scored with what was their first chance of the game. Aleksandar Jovanovic spotting Sivasakthi with a chance to run at the Islanders backline, lifted a punt over the top that Mourtada Fall missed. Sensing the opportunity, Sivasakthi continued his run and nudged the Senegalese defender

out of the way, before lobbing a mature finish over Phurba Lachenpa to put his side in the lead.
Grayson’s side attacked with intent down both flanks as Naorem Roshan Singh and Prabir Das stretched play at every opportunity. Ahmed Jahouh had Mumbai’s first chance, with his effort from a distance flying off target, before Buckhingham’s side found the equaliser through Apuia on the half-hour mark.
Stewart’s quick free-kick allowed Mumbai a shot on target that Gurpreet Singh Sandhu managed to parry. However, Apuia managed to slot home on the rebound past Sandesh
Jhingan’s attempted last-ditch challenge.
Only eight minutes later, Sivasakthi almost reclaimed the lead for Bengaluru after Alan Costa’s header from a corner fell to Roy Krishna. The Fiji International’s shot found its way to Sivasakthi, who attempted a flicked finish, but Jahouh hooked away off the line to keep things level.
Into the second period, Bengaluru had the first chance when Sivasakthi forced Lachenpa into a wayward pass that Chhetri intercepted before feeding Krishna in space. Krishna’s attempt from a distance seemed to be heading toward the goal, but Mumbai defender Royston Griffiths nodded over.
The Blues continued to push forward in search of the lead and almost got it when Jayesh Rane’s deft chip found Chhetri unmarked in the box. The skipper took a touch and composed himself, but his shot was met by a fine save from Lachenpa. From the resulting corner, however, Bengaluru retook the lead.
Chhetri’s delivery, floated in with pace, was met by a thumping header from Brazilian defender Costa, which flew past Lachenpa and gave Grayson’s side the lead once again.
Into the final quarter, the hosts rang in two changes as Fall and Vinit Rai were replaced by Alberto Noguera and Mehtab Singh. Bengaluru had a chance to put the game to bed in the 87th minute when Chhetri was found in the box by Sivasakthi, but the skipper, who managed to skip past two defenders, saw his effort fly over the bar.
Into added time, Mumbai almost drew level through Stewart, who managed to get a shot away but it rolled off target. The Blues return to Indian Super League action next, where they begin with a clash against NorthEast United at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, on October 8. (UNI)