Bengaluru FC will face reigning champions Mohun Bagan in the second semi-final of the Durand Cup after the two teams clashed in their last eight matches on Friday. While Mohun Bagan defeated Punjab FC 6-5 in the tiebreaker after both sides finished level at 3-3 in regulation time, a late injury-time goal from Pererya Diaz secured a 1-0 win for the Blues over Kerala Blasters in another quarter-final clash. In a match that saw a pendulum swing of fortunes, it was Luca Majcen who put Punjab FC ahead in the 17th minute with a penalty but Suhail Bhat (44th) and Manvir Singh (48th) put the green-maroon brigade ahead early in the second half.
Punjab led 3-2 in the 71st minute thanks to Filip Mrzljak (63rd) and Norberto Ezequiel Vidal (71st) finding the net.
However, Australian star Jason Cummings scored the equaliser in the 79th minute, sending the match into extra time.
In the tie-breaker, Cummings missed Bagan's first penalty, but Punjab's Croatian defender Novoselec was stopped by Mariners keeper Vishal Kaith when he failed to convert the fifth kick as they looked on the verge of winning. It was Greg Stewart who promptly drew Bagan level.
As sudden death struck, Melroy Assisi scored for the Shers, and so did Subhashish Bose and Aldred with the winning kick for MBSG. But Vishal's second save, this time from Denechandram Meetei, proved decisive in the end.
Other goalscorers for Bagan in the tiebreak were Manvir, Liston Colaco and Dimi Petratos, while Vinit Rai, Vidal, Bakenga and Mrzljak scored for the losers.
The other match at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan got off to a tense start when Kerala Blasters keeper Som Kumar collided with Bengaluru striker Pererya Diaz, forcing the Tuskers coach to make an early substitution and bring in reserve keeper Sachin.
The first half was a showcase of tactical play, with both teams testing each other's defences but failing to break the deadlock.
Bengaluru FC had the upper hand but despite their control they were unable to capitalise on it, with only one of their six shots on target.
Kerala Blasters came close to scoring in the 26th minute but Blues goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saved an effort from Noah Wail Sadaoui.
The second half saw the Blues aggressively push forward but they were unable to capitalise on their chances. A notable opportunity came in the 56th minute but Pererya Diaz was unable to convert a Shivaldo cross.
Bengaluru continued to dominate the ball but their efforts were thwarted time and again by Kerala's resilient defence.
Sunil Chhetri's 67th-minute substitute put the pressure on Kerala Blasters but both teams struggled to find a decisive moment.
In the final stoppage time, Bengaluru were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area.
Chhetri's effort was blocked by the wall, leading to a corner. From that corner, Pererya Diaz finally broke the deadlock, firing the ball into the near post in the 94th minute to secure victory for Bengaluru FC.
In the first semi-final, Northeast United FC will take on Shillong Lajong FC in Shillong on Saturday.
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