Super Cup final | Goa shoots out East Bengal, defends title

In a tense finish, FC Goa prevailed 6-5 in a penalty shootout over East Bengal to retain the AIFF Super Cup and punch its ticket to next season’s AFC Champions League 2 once again. Both teams couldn’t be separated in what was a cagey final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Sunday, with the last two champions of the competition trading blows for 120 minutes only to remain goalless.

Substitute Sahil Tavora put away his spot-kick in the sudden death after Mohammad Rashid and P.V. Vishnu had blazed their penalties over the bar to seal Goa’s win in front of jubilant home fans.

For the vast majority of the regulation 90 minutes and 30 minutes of extra time, it was East Bengal which brilliantly executed its plan of frustrating the home side by not allowing it to settle into its attacking rhythm.

Goa’s lynchpin Borja Herrera was double-teamed and marked out of the game. His frustration only compounded when he missed his penalty in the shoot-out.

However, East Bengal was wasteful in front of goal, with striker Hiroshi Ibusuki failing to hit the target after beating the offside trap and later, heading the ball straight at goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari after being found by Bipin Singh’s cross.

The subdued home crowd finally found its voice in the 76th minute when Brison Fernandes rattled the post with a strike, which was followed by Dejan Drazic putting his header wide from close range.

Pol Moreno’s clearance-cum-shot way out from the centre circle was tipped onto the crossbar by a watchful Prabhsukhan Gill.

But both teams failed to break the deadlock even after extra time and had to be separated by a nervy shootout in the end, with Manolo Marquez’s men prevailing and winning the Super Cup for a record-extending third time.

The result: East Bengal 0 drew with FC Goa 0; Goa won the penalty shootout 6-5.