ISL | Rampant Bengaluru hosts clinical Goa in the semifinals

Main man: Williams has been in good form for BFC.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

High on a thumping 5-0 win over Mumbai City FC in the one-legged knockout a few days ago, Bengaluru FC will host FC Goa in the first leg of their Indian Super League semifinal at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Wednesday. 

BFC’s biggest home victory in the ISL powered the side to the last-four stage, while FC Goa finished second in the standings with 48 points from 24 league-stage matches.

This will mark Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza’s first ISL semifinal appearance. “I’m looking forward to it. I came here to win trophies, and we have three other really good teams involved in the semifinals too,” Zaragoza said. 

FCG will want to erase memories from its semifinal fixture in the previous season, which resulted in losses in both legs against MCFC. 

Both BFC and FCG have been prolific in attack. The host’s experienced striker Sunil Chhetri, who came off the bench to score against MCFC, is one away from equaling his highest goal tally in a single ISL season (14 in 2017-18). BFC will also look to Ryan Williams to make his trademark runs. 

The visitor is similarly packed with goal-scoring talent. Winger Brison Fernandes, who has scored seven goals and provided two assists, is a key threat. Armando Sadiku and Iker Guarrotxena, with nine and seven goals respectively, will test the BFC defence.