Super Cup: Punjab shoot Bengaluru out to enter semis

Fatorda, Nov 5 (IANS) Punjab FC secured their semi-final spot in the AIFF Super Cup 2025-26, defeating Bengaluru FC 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the match ended goalless in regulation time at the PJN Stadium on Wednesday.
 

Both Punjab and Bengaluru finished with seven points apiece, with two wins and a draw to their name. As both teams were locked on the same points, goal difference (six), and goals scored (six), the winners of Group C had to be decided via a penalty shootout.

Bengaluru’s Ryan Williams was the only player to have his spot-kick saved, knocking them out of the competition. Suresh Singh Wangjam, Rahul Bheke, Sunil Chhetri, and Braian Sanchez scored for the Blues, while Punjab scored all five of their penalties – Nsungsi Effiong, Princeton Rebello, Samir Zeljkovic, Leon Augustine, and Vinit Rai finding the net.

Both sides came into the game with intent, but lacked the final penetration, at least in the opening exchanges. What they lacked in terms of creation from midfield, however, was more than made up for with the intensity of the approach from both teams. Punjab had a couple of early attempts, Effiong lacking the desired control in the area after being played through behind the Bengaluru defence.

The Shers began to dictate terms, enjoying long bouts of possession in the Bengaluru half after the quarter-hour mark. Ninthoinganba Meetei, better known as Ninthoi, looked especially lively down the left flank. His 28th-minute run created the first shot on goal for Punjab, as the winger cut in from the left, passed it to Daniel Ramírez, whose shot from just outside the box lacked power and was easily smothered by Bengaluru goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Bengaluru, after weathering the onslaught, began to create chances of their own and came close in the 35th minute, when Sanchez’s cross from the right dipped goalwards, forcing Punjab goalkeeper Muheet Shabir into a smart save as he tipped it over the bar. Blues defender Chinglensana Singh Konsham, from the ensuing corner, managed to break free of his marker, but could only blaze his header over the cross-bar.

Ninthoi produced another run on the left in the first half injury time. He got himself into a good position to send in a low cross that Effiong left after initially rushing towards the ball. This afforded Leon Augustine to rush in with a shot that he sent over the cross-bar.

Punjab came out with the same intensity after the change of ends as well, though their real chances were mostly restricted to set-pieces. Ramírez’s 58th-minute corner found an unmarked Effiong at the far post, but the Nigerian striker’s header glanced agonisingly.

Bengaluru head coach Gerard Zaragoza rolled the dice first, introducing Sunil Chhetri and Ashique Kuruniyan into the fray, which changed the momentum of the game. The Blues now enjoyed long bouts of possession, looking to secure their route to the last four.

Ashique was set through down the left in the 68th minute, when his inch-perfect cross found Chhetri lurking unmarked in the Punjab penalty area. With both space and time at hand, and just the goalkeeper to beat, the striker volleyed it wide.

Bengaluru won a number of corners in the last five minutes, and it was only in injury time that they really came close to scoring again. Vinith Venkatesh’s corner found defender Rahul Bheke, who headed it wide, as the referee soon blew his whistle, sending the match into the dreaded penalties.

Punjab FC goalkeeper Shabir turned out to be the hero of the shootout, as he held his nerve, especially during Williams’ spot-kick. The Australian forward waited till the last minute to see which way Shabir would go, before sending it to the keeper’s left. Shabir, however, watched it till the very end, and only had to move a set to his left to save Williams’ spot-kick. With all other penalties scored, Punjab won the contest 5-4 and secured their place in the semi-finals.

--IANS

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