Ryan Williams scored Bengaluru FC’s third goal as the team crushed Mumbai City FC in the ISL playoff in Bengaluru on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K
On yet another magical night of knockout football for Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Gerard Zaragoza’s men spanked Mumbai City FC 5-0 to enter the 2024-25 Indian Super League semifinal, here on Saturday.
In what was BFC’s biggest home win in the ISL, winger Ryan Williams assisted the first goal, won the penalty for the second and scored the third in a splendid performance.
Sunil Chhetri started on the bench but still left his mark with an expert finish from distance when Mumbai goalie Phurba Lachenpa botched a clearance and left his goalmouth exposed.
Fellow substitute Jorge Pereyra Diaz capped his first game in more than two months by putting the final nail in the coffin and ensuring that confidence will be sky-high when his side takes on FC Goa in the first-leg of the semifinal, also at Kanteerava, on April 2.
The visitors neither had the legs to outlast BFC nor ideas that could outsmart. Brandon Fernandes and Lallianzuala Chhangte made the XI despite being injured in the lead-up but BFC shut the creative duo down superbly. Jorge Mendoza’s free-kick that clattered against the bar in the first half was the closest Mumbai came.
BFC drew first blood as early as the ninth minute when Williams’ low drive from the right deflected off defender Thaer Krouma, and the onrushing Suresh Wangjam slotted the ball in cleanly.
That was the earliest sign that flanks would be from where BFC would launch most attacks, and with Williams leading the line brilliantly and routinely beating the offside trap, the home outfit ran riot, sending multiple aerial balls to keep Mumbai on the tenterhooks.
But Petr Kratky’s wards somehow held on but the resistance snapped with minutes left for the break. Alberto Noguera slipped in a cheeky ball for Williams to chase, and the Aussie was challenged by defender Hmingthanmawia. The latter seemingly won the ball, only for the referee to award a penalty.
With Chhetri still in the dug-out, Edgar Mendez converted the spot-kick to send the BFC faithful into raptures. They would taste ecstasy not long after.
The result: Bengaluru FC 5 (Wangjam 9, Mendez 42, Williams 62, Chhetri 76, Pereyra Diaz 83) bt Mumbai City FC 0.
Published – March 29, 2025 10:41 pm IST
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