Bengaluru FC enters the Durand Cup final after a narrow 1-0 win over Hyderabad FC

Bengaluru FC will now play the final of the 131st Durand Cup after besting Indian Super League (ISL) champions Hyderabad FC by a solitary goal in the second semi-final held at Salt Lake Stadium here on Thursday. 

The decider was an own-goal from Hyderabad's Spanish defender Odei Zabala, who misfired in an attempt to clear the ball. The shocking blunder was witnessed at the half-hour mark as Prabir Das sent a sharp cross to Roy Krishna. 

The Fijian forward missed the ball, which found Odei's legs and bounced into the net. Interestingly, Hyderabad FC dominated possession and also created more goal-scoring opportunities. 

However, the attackers couldn't get past Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the Bengaluru goal. The Indian international was fiercely devoted to the game as he collected four good saves and held the score-line in favor of the Blues.

Hyderabad FC's first chance arrived in the eighth minute when Sunil Chhetri accidentally made a pass to Hyderabad winger Halicharan Narzary, and the ball then found Bartholomew Ogbece unmarked inside the Bengaluru box. 

Sandhu, who managed two more blocks later in the match, saved the Nigerian forward's shot. Bengaluru consistently and effectively maintained their narrow one-goal lead for the rest of the game.

They exhibited a structured defensive set-up that relatively easily tackled most of the Hyderabad attack inside the box.

What went wrong for Hyderabad FC?

Despite Hyderabad having more possession, they were the weaker team as star striker Batholomew Ogbeche squandered his chances, leading to Bengaluru winning the battle of ISL heavyweights. 

The goal was counterintuitive and a rare error that Hyderabad overlooked. BFC managed to capitalise on their first proper attack of the match. 

The ball was intended to reach Fijian striker Roy Krishna, but Zabala, the BFC central defender, intervened and deflected it into the back of his net. 

HFC boasted 68 percent possession in the first half and three shots on target compared to BFC's. Sunil Chetri found a chance as he was positioned at the end of a long ball, but his volley flew over the roof of the goal post.

After that, we didn't see many clear chances in the game as Hyderabad fumbled and failed to live up to expectations.