In a dramatic match at the Kalinga Super Cup, Inter Kashi edged past Bengaluru FC in a penalty shootout to secure their spot in the quarterfinals.
The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, with Ryan Williams scoring for Bengaluru and Matija Babovic equalising for Inter Kashi in the dying minutes.
The decisive moment came in the shootout, where goalkeeper Shubham Dhas heroically saved Alberto Noguera’s spot-kick, leading his team to a 5-4 victory.
Nikola Stojanovic was named the Kalinga Player of the Match for his exceptional performance.
Goalkeeper Shubham Dhas became the hero for Inter Kashi, making a crucial save to deny Alberto Noguera’s penalty kick. David Humanes Munoz, Bijoy V, Nikola Stojanovic, Aritra Das, and Matija Babovic successfully converted their penalties for Inter Kashi, while Ryan Williams, Sunil Chhetri, and Jorge Pereyra Diaz scored for Bengaluru FC.
Inter Kashi started the match with intensity, with Prasanth K. coming close to scoring in the 15th minute when he hit the post. Bengaluru FC responded with increased aggression, with Ryan Williams creating opportunities, but their shots were blocked.
The second half saw Inter Kashi testing Bengaluru’s goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, several times, including a near miss from Nikola Stojanovic’s free kick. In the 62nd minute, Ryan Williams broke the deadlock with a goal after taking advantage of a misjudgment by Dhas.
As the match neared its end, Inter Kashi pushed harder and found an equaliser in the 87th minute when Matija Babovic flicked in a cross, sending the game to a shootout.