Goa, Apr 8 (Reporter) Bengaluru FC’s Sunil Chhetri may have scored the decisive goal that sealed the Blues’ place in the Indian Super League (ISL) final, but the veteran forward was more intent on explaining the behind-the-scenes strategy and mental clarity that guided his team through a high-pressure semifinal second leg against FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Sunday. Despite a 1-2 loss on the night, Bengaluru FC advanced 3-2 on aggregate, having won the first leg 2-0 at home. In a match that oscillated between tactical grit and emotional intensity, it was Chhetri’s late goal in stoppage time that made the difference — but the captain was quick to decode how the game unfolded and how Bengaluru’s bench anticipated it. “There wasn’t any doubt,” Chhetri said in a post-match interaction, reflecting on the tense moments when the aggregate was level at 2-2. “It was clear. I think in my head I had a prediction about what we can do. First, let’s get the 90 minutes done, go to the dugout, recoup, and then come back and see the 30 minutes — that was the theory.” Chhetri revealed that his introduction into the match was timed based on a tactical read of FC Goa’s gameplan. “It was too tactical — where the ball goes, who comes in, when the ball goes here, who comes out — it was all detailed. That’s why I had to listen,” he explained. “We tweaked our formation a little bit depending on how FC Goa was playing.” The match began with FC Goa displaying urgency as they looked to overturn the deficit. Substitute Borja Herrera, coming on after an early injury to Carl McHugh, struck just before half-time to reduce the deficit and bring the aggregate to 2-1. As the second half wore on, Armando Sadiku’s well-placed header brought the aggregate level, setting up a nail-biting finish. But Bengaluru’s experience shone through in the crucial moments. A defensive lapse by the Gaurs allowed Chhetri to pounce and deliver the knockout blow in stoppage time, a move that seemed scripted in hindsight. “I wish there was some way that no matter who won, we could play in the home ground,” Chhetri remarked, alluding to the final at Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s home turf in Kolkata. “But... we just won a game which was almost difficult to win.” Bengaluru FC will now face MBSG at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in the ISL final. The Mariners qualified after a 2-0 win over Jamshedpur FC in the other semi-final. As the Blues march into the final, it is not just Chhetri’s goal that stands out — it is also the veteran’s tactical lens, which offers a masterclass in reading the game, responding to shifts in momentum, and seizing the moment...////...