The defending champions will face the winner of the second semifinal between East Bengal FC and NorthEast United FC in the final. Punjab FC were tested by an intense Mohun Bagan press in the opening stages but remained compact and organised. The first chance came in the third minute when Lallianzuala Chhangte’s effort took a slight deflection, but Arshdeep Singh kept his composure to collect.
Punjab FC went down narrowly 3-4 on penalties to defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant to end their campaign at IFA Shield on Sunday. The Shers stayed competitive throughout 120 minutes and came close to finding the breakthrough on several occasions before Mohun Bagan prevailed in the shootout.
Mohun Bagan threatened again five minutes later when Asish Rai reached an aerial through ball and set up Lee Erwin with a first-time pass after Arshdeep rushed off his line. The Punjab FC defence recovered quickly to block Erwin’s effort and clear the danger. Erwin then tested Arshdeep from a free-kick, with the Punjab goalkeeper reacting sharply to parry the ball away. Bishu Sharma then made a strong run before setting up Alfred Moya on the right side of the box in the 27th minute, but Moya’s grounded effort went narrowly wide. The Shers held their ground in extra time. Erwin set up Drazic in the 91st minute, but his effort went wide, before Drazic found Suhail Ahmad Bhat inside the box in the 104th minute. Muheet Shabir rushed off his line and made an excellent leg save to deny him. Neither side could find a decisive opening in the remainder of extra time. Punjab stayed alive in the shootout after Raphael Messi Bouli and Arshvir Singh converted their penalties, while Vishal Kaith saved Ngarin Shaiza’s effort and later denied Vishal Yadav.
Punjab came close again 10 minutes later when Moya and Sharma combined inside the box, with Sharma’s low shot taking a deflection into the hands of Vishal Kaith. Muheet Shabir also kept Punjab in contention by saving Dezan Drazic’s penalty, while Rishikanta Meitei converted to make it 3-3.
However, Miguel Ferreira scored the decisive penalty after Alberto Rodriguez had earlier put Mohun Bagan ahead, sending the defending champions through.
