Bengaluru FC’s long-standing struggle with penalty shootouts resurfaced in heartbreaking fashion once again, as the Blues were knocked out of the AIFF Super Cup following a 4–5 loss to Punjab FC at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Wednesday.
Ryan Williams, who had been in fine form in the previous match, was the only player to miss from the spot, while Vinit Rai held his nerve to slot into the top-left corner and send the Shers into the semifinal from Group C. For Bengaluru, it marked another painful exit after their shootout defeat to Inter Kashi last season.
Punjab began the brighter of the two sides, with new Nigerian forward Nsungusi Effiong at the heart of their early chances. However, the striker’s finishing let his team down on multiple occasions — first heading over in the fourth minute and later failing to reach a promising through ball from Dani Ramirez, which allowed Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to claim comfortably.
Bengaluru, slow to find rhythm, produced their first real chance after the half-hour mark. Braian Sanchez dispossessed Nikhil Prabhu and burst down the right wing, whipping in a dangerous ball that took a deflection off Muhammed Uvais before goalkeeper Muheet Shabir pushed it away. Chinglensana Singh then headed over from a corner as the Blues began to grow into the contest.
After the interval, Punjab regained control. Close to the hour mark, Effiong met a Ramirez corner with a glancing header that drifted just wide. Ten minutes later, Bengaluru came agonisingly close when Ryan Williams found Ashique Kuruniyan on the left; his low cross reached Sunil Chhetri, but the veteran striker missed narrowly off target.
Punjab’s coach, Panagiotis Dilmperis, employed a disciplined zonal marking system, allowing little room for creativity. His tactical setup effectively neutralised Williams, who found himself isolated on the flank. Bengaluru improved defensively after the break, tightening their midfield to restrict the influence of Ramirez and Samir Zeljkovic.
With neither side able to break the deadlock, the game went into stoppage time, where Rahul Bheke’s header from a free-kick nearly sealed it for Bengaluru. However, the contest inevitably headed for penalties. Shabir emerged the hero, saving Williams’ effort, before Vinit Rai converted the decisive kick to seal a 5–4 shootout victory.
Punjab FC will now face East Bengal in the semifinals, while FC Goa awaits the Group D topper in the other tie.
In the earlier match, Gokulam Kerala finished their campaign on a high note with a commanding 3–0 win over Mohammedan Sporting in Bambolim. Albert Torras, Samuel Kynshi, and Juan Carlos Rico Azorín were on target for the Malabarians, ensuring a positive end to their Super Cup journey.
