ISL 2023-24: Substitute Sivasakthi hero with the late winner as Bengaluru FC edges past Hyderabad

Javi Hernandez had given the Blues the lead in the second half, before Hyderabad’s Ramlunchhunga equalised, only for Sivasakthi to find the back of the net in a tight contest.

File Photo: Bengaluru FC’s Sivasakthi in action during an ISL match | Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K/ The Hindu

Bengaluru FC edged Hyderabad FC with substitute Sivasakthi Narayanan scoring a late winner at the Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Saturday.

Spanish midfielder Javi Hernandez had given the Blues the lead in the second half, before Ramlunchhunga equalised, only for Sivasakthi to find the back of the net in what was a fixture for the stands

Bengaluru started the game on the front foot, piling up attacks one after the other, continually testing the Hyderabad defence. On the half hour mark, Shivaldo Singh struck a right-footed shot from outside the box, forcing Kattimani to save. The Hyderabad keeper was kept busy from the get go.

The Blues got closer to breaking the deadlock when Sunil Chhetri was played through on goal by Williams, but his attempt could only find the side netting. Bengaluru was denied again in time added on to the first half when Slavko clipped the ball over the Hyderabad backline to set up Oliver Drost.

The Danish striker’s attempted lob over Kattimani, saw the onrushing goalkeeper make himself big to deny. Javi’s attempt from the rebound of the same play was cleared off the line.

Bengaluru found itself in the lead through Javi with 72 minutes on the clock with Drost finding the Spaniard free down the left flank who lashed his shot past Kattimani to give Bengaluru the lead.

Bengaluru’s lead, however, was short lived as Ramhlungchhunga brought his side back into the game, scoring on the rebound (80’) from a Gurpreet Singh Sandhu save to level things up with just ten minutes of regulation time left to play.

Found in space down the flank, Sivasakthi beat his marker, cutting in on his left and unleashing an effort that evaded Kattimani’s dive and found its way to the bottom corner.

Bengaluru FC saw the game through, picking up three valuable points that pushes it up to eighth place on the table, four points off the final playoff spot.

The Blues takes on southern rival Kerala Blasters next, on Sunday, March 2 at the Kanteerava Stadium