Substitute Soham Varshneya struck in the third minute of stoppage time as Bengaluru FC beat FC Goa 2-1 at Fatorda in the Indian Super League on Friday, answering Franchu’s long-range equaliser and lifting the visitors to third place in the table.
FATORDA, 6 November: Bengaluru FC scored early, were pegged back within minutes, and then waited until the last breath of the match to take all three points at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where a late run and a left-footed finish settled a tight ISL contest.
Martínez strikes, Franchu answers
The visitors made the first move in the 12th minute. Ryan Williams and Lalremtluanga Fanai combined in the build-up, and the ball reached Borja Martínez, who made room for himself outside the box and drove a left-footed shot into the net.
The lead lasted five minutes. Muhammed Nemil set up Franchu in the 17th, and the Goa player hit a right-footed shot from distance that Bengaluru goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu could do nothing about. It was 1-1.
Kuruniyan creates, Varshneya finishes
The decisive moment came with the clock already past 90. Ashique Kuruniyan broke through the Goa defence and created space inside the area. Varshneya, on as a substitute, timed his run into the box and finished with his left foot in the third minute of stoppage time (90+3’), giving Bengaluru a 2-1 lead that Goa had no time to answer.
Third place and a game in hand
The win moved Bengaluru up to third in the table, behind NorthEast United and Mohun Bagan Super Giant, with a game in hand. It followed an opening-night 3-2 win over Sporting Club Delhi, in which Martínez also scored, and a stoppage-time equaliser at NorthEast United earlier this season.
Bengaluru return to the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Friday, 20 November, to host Mumbai City. Goa, beaten at home, travel to Guwahati to face NorthEast United the next day.
Result: Bengaluru FC 2 (Borja Martínez 12’, Soham Varshneya 90+3’), FC Goa 1 (Franchu 17’).
