Ratings: Bengaluru's Sivasakthi snatches away FC Goa's playoffs hopes

The Blues swept the Gaurs aside in a match full of swift counter-attacking displays.

Bengaluru FC concluded their ISL 2022/23 campaign with a 3-1 win over FC Goa at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Thursday. Simon Grayson's men demolished every brick of hope Carlos Pena's side had with a ruthless showcase. The Blues' Roshan Singh and Sivasakthi combined for the first goal as the left-back teed up the in-form youngster from a corner kick. Iker Guarrotxena managed to level the proceedings at the brink of half-time but Bengaluru FC had other plans.

After the break, things were at a standstill as Simon Grayson had instructed his side to be on the prowl for the perfect opportunity. They followed his advice and got their breakthrough soon as Suresh's saved shot rolled into Sivasakthi's path and he knocked it in to complete his brace. Pablo Perez put the final nail in the coffin and concluded a season of could-haves for FC Goa as they walked away with a place on the playoffs and three points.

Here are Khel Now's player ratings for the night:

Bengaluru FC (By Sathvik K Bharadwaj)

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK) - 7

Bengaluru's goalkeeper was called into action during FC Goa’s late push and was upto the task. Made five saves from six shots on target.

Parag Shrivas - 6.5

Shifted to left-back as BFC went to a back-4 in the final quarter. Completed the most passes among BFC players. 

Aleksandar Jovanovic - 7

Had his pockets full dealing with Iker’s clever positioning. Got his head to lofted crosses and made seven clearances. 

https://youtu.be/_eyp6Ce-gBw

Bruno Ramires - 7.5

Played as the centre-back once again. Dealt well with Goa’s crosses from both sides and differing heights and made three succesful tackles. 

Naorem Roshan Singh - 8 

Supplied a pin-point corner in a dangerous area to set the opening goal up. Shuttled up and down the left wing, made three interceptions. 

Prabir Das - 7.5

Bengaluru FC's defender was kept on his toes by FC Goa's Noah Sadaoui but was commanding in defence. Put in three successful tackles.

Suresh Wangjam - 7

Played a vital contribution in the build-up to the second goal, shooting on the turn and forcing a save from Dheeraj. 

Rohit Kumar - 6.5

Filled in at left-back while Roshan ventured forwards. Could not impose himself like previous matches and failed to connect an easy header. Was replaced by Jayesh Rane at the hour mark

Roy Krishna - 7

Almost scored off Gurpreet’s long punt. Assisted the third goal by setting Pablo Perez up. 

Sunil Chhetri (c) - 6

Had a header on target saved by Dheeraj. Picked up a booking in the eighth minute. Could not contribute much in the link-up, came off for Pablo Perez.

Sivasakthi Narayanan - 9

Scored a glancing header from Roshan’s corner in the sixth minute. Made ghosting runs off counters but the supply was missing. Tapped in the winner after Dheeraj’s save from Suresh’s shot fell kindly to his path.

Substitutes

Pablo Perez - 8

Sealed the game off with the third goal, struck the roof of the net with a fine finish. 

Jayesh Rane - 6.5

Gave the ball away in dangerous areas early on but picked the right passes later on. 

Udanta Singh - N/A

Came on for Roy Krishna

Leon Augustine - N/A

Found the back of the net for the fourth goal but was ruled offside

FC Goa (By Riddhiman Sarkar)

Dheeraj Singh - 6.5

FC Goa's goalkeeper Dheeraj’s three saves were not enough as Bengaluru’s second was turned in off a rebound. The custodian was one of the many Gaurs who fell prey to an unlucky night at the Kanteerava Stadium. 

Seriton Fernandes- 6

Roshan and Roy Krishna were too much to handle for the right-back as he couldn’t decide between switching in and out. Won two duels but could not venture forward at all as a result. 

Fares Arnaout- 6

Crucial at the back for the Gaurs but not decisive. Pitched in by winning 66% of his challenges before going off for Hernan Santana in the 62nd minute. 

Anwar Ali- 6.5

Morphed into his favoured unconventional extra frontman role as he tried to venture forward and even tried an ambitious long-ranger. Defended well, winning all five of his ground duels and two of his three aerial challenges but conceded through the single lost aerial duel. 

Saviour Gama - 6

Lost both of his aerial duels and was swamped by the rampant Sivasakthi and the overlapping bombing runs of Prabir Das. Still managed to win four of his six ground duels but was pegged back by the Blues.

Ayush Dev Chhetri - 6

Was tasked to cover too much ground as Suresh Wangjam, Jayesh Rane and Rohit Kumar ran rings around him.  Eventually subbed off after Carlos Pena decided that his 88% passing accuracy was not too useful and brought on Nikhil Prabhu in his stead. 

Edu Bedia- 6

The midfield maestro went from bang average to abysmally poor after an unneeded protest got him into the book. Rare blank from the Spaniard as he generated a solitary key pass out of 40 accurate short passes, one cross and five long balls.

Redeem Tlang - 6.5

Lots of running for the electric winger but no output as both of his shots on target were saved. Went off in the 75th minute for Devendra Dhaku Murgaonkar with none of his four crosses finding their mark.

Brandon Fernandes- 6.5

Almost got another one back for Goa from a brilliant free-kick but summed up his side’s night out as he missed the target. Brandon picked up a yellow but was Goa’s most creative attacker as he supplied three key passes for his teammates.

Noah Sadaoui- 6.5

Teed up Guarrotxena but Grayson’s clever four-man midfield/ back-five closed down all the space for him. Prabir Das contested and won the battle more than once against the Moroccan who was limited to only one shot on target.

Iker Guarrotxena - 7

Slipped between the lines and scored a good goal after collecting Noah’s ball but had too many players marking him. The kind of pressure he was subjected to reflected in the fact that he could attempt and succeed in only one take-on and was fouled twice.

Substitutes

Hernan Santana- 6

Fulfilled his fair share of defensive duties with two ground duels won out of two but faltered with his passing as he managed to get two of his seven attempted long balls on target.

Nikhil Prabhu - 6

Only had a defensive presence worth mentioning as he won four out of five ground duels.

Devendra Dhaku Murgaonkar- 6

No skillful dribbling or decisive passage of play from the youngster this time out as he had time enough to get a mere three touches.