ISL 2022-23 final: ATK Mohun Bagan defeat Bengaluru on penalties (4-3) as game ends 2-2 after extra-time

Updated: Oct 12, 2023, 03:20 pm

ATK Mohun Bagan celebrates after winning ISL
ATK Mohun Bagan celebrates after winning ISL
Pal PILLAI /Focus Sports/ ISL

ATK Mohun Bagan won the 2022-23 Indian Super League, defeating Bengaluru FC on penalties (4-3), after the game ended 2-2 after extra time. Bruno Ramires and Pablo Perez missed the decisive penalties for BFC, with Dimi Petratos, Sunil Chhetri and Roy Krishna finding the net in normal time. This is the first ISL title for the ATK Mohun Bagan in their new guise, with ATK and Atletico de Kolkata winning three titles together. Sanjiv Goenka also announced that the club would be known as Mohun Bagan Super Giants going forward.

Bengaluru FC's final started off with an ill-omen as Sivasakthi Narayanan went off injured, replaced by Sunil Chhetri in the fourth minute. As both teams adjusted to the change in personnel, there were a couple of half-chances made at either end.

Simon Grayson's night went from bad to worse after Roy Krishna handled in the box while challenging Ashique Kuruniyan for a header, with the referee pointing to the spot. Dimi Petratos stepped up, and despite Gurpreet Singh Sandhu diving the right way, the penalty was struck too well, giving ATK Mohun Bagan the lead in the 14th minute.

Dimi Petratos celebrates scoring ATK Mohun Bagan's opening goal against Bengaluru FC in the ISL Final.
Dimi Petratos celebrates scoring ATK Mohun Bagan's opening goal against Bengaluru FC in the ISL Final.
Shibu Preman / Focus Sports / ISL

Juan Ferrando's side underlined their confidence, forcing Gurpreet into a couple of saves later, with BFC appearing disorganized in attack and defence. However, they remained a threat on set-pieces, with Javi drawing a great save from Vishal Kaith, while Sandesh Jhingan headed over while rising highest from a corner.

The drama of the final continued unabated, with Roy Krishna denied a penalty in the 35th minute after Pritam Kotal appeared to make contact while attempting a clearance. The referee waved away Bengaluru's appeals, but had no doubt ten minutes later, pointing to the spot in first-half injury time.

Subhasish Bose missed an attempted clearance and connected with Roy Krishna in the box, thus conceding a penalty. Chhetri stepped up, and with just a one-step run-up, guided the ball past Kaith, the ATKMB keeper diving the wrong way, as both teams went into the break level.

Sunil Chhetri celebrates scoring Bengaluru FC's equaliser from the spot against ATK Mohun Bagan in the ISL Final.
Sunil Chhetri celebrates scoring Bengaluru FC's equaliser from the spot against ATK Mohun Bagan in the ISL Final.
Vipin Pawar / Focus Sports / ISL

Both managers made changes at half-time, with Lalrinliana Hnamte and Pablo Perez coming on for Glan Martins and Aleksandar Jovanovic. Ferrando made a further change with Liston Colaco coming on for Ashique Kuruniyan in the 54th minute. Liston made an immediate impact, with his long-range strike in the 60th minute forcing Gurpreet into a save, but the rebound fell right to Petratos, who shot wide with the goal gaping.

ATKMB continued their pressure, with Boumous sending a volley narrowly over minutes later. Both teams faded as the half went-on, with set-pieces the best avenue of attack. It proved to be the case in the 78th minute, as Roy Krishna towered over Hnamte at the far post and headed in a corner. Yet, Bengaluru FC's joy was short-lived as Perez conceded a penalty minutes later, bundling over Kiyan Nassiri from behind, although replays showed the foul began outside the box.

Petratos stepped up once more and even with Gurpreet diving in the correct direction, there was no saving his emphatic penalty, with the scores level at 2-2 in the 85th minute. As the game wound down, Chhetri nearly pulled off the impossible with an overhead kick that went wide, while Prabir Das also cleared Petratos' goal-bound effort off the line, to ensure the game went into extra time.

Udanta Singh came on for Javi Hernandez and headed over from Chhetri's free-kick in the opening minutes of extra time. With both teams struggling to create, Rohit Kumar went closest with a strike from range in the 100th minute.

Yet, both sides had great chances to take the lead in the second half of extra-time, as Krishna struck one over, pouncing on Perez' flick-on from a long ball. Manvir then went close for ATKMB, running onto a beautifully floated cross from Petratos at the far post but heading wide with the goal at his mercy.

The game looked destined for penalties, but Gurpreet almost gifted ATKMB the win fumbling Petratos' knuckle-shot from range just wide of the post. The game moved into penalties thereafter, with Alan Costa and Petratos sending in impressive opening penalties for either side. Krishna and Colaco continued the spell of converted penalties, but it was followed by Bruno having his effort saved by Vishal Kaith, the keeper diving to his right. Kiyan Nassiri, Chhetri and Manvir all converted their efforts, leaving Pablo Perez with the pressure of having to score. The Spaniard blazed over, thus confirming ATK Mohun Bagan's win and sparking scenes of celebration.