Bengaluru FC one step away from AFC CUP Semifinal after edging past Rovers in home leg

by Chittu Shetty September 14, 2016

Bengaluru FC edge past Tampine Rovers with a 1-0 victory after CK Vineeth put the home team in front of the home leg of the AFC Cup 2016 Quarter Final.

Playing a closed game for the first time, thanks to the violent situation all around the city, Bengaluru FC went ahead in the eight minute after Sunil chhetri’s through pass found Alwyn George, who smartly setup the ball for the onrushing CK vineeth, who didn’t make any mistake in putting the ball at the back of net. Soon BFC had another chance with once again Chhetri setting up Vineeth only for him to hit the ball straight at the keeper.

Bengaluru soon began to control the game and it looked like a second goal was around. Tampine Rovers were guilty of being inconsistent on the ball and soon their worries increased when their defender Mustafic Fahrudin, limped off due to injury, and was replaced by Afiq Yunos. Pushing higher up the field and fielding plenty in midfield, Bengaluru continued to threaten but failed to get goal for the impact they made.

Minutes before halftime, left-back Nishu Kumar found space and unleashed a powerful strike, which was tipped over by Rovers’ goalkeeper Mohammed Izwan. BFC under new coach Albert Roca were looking to play more passing football keeping the ball on ground then long ball counter attacking football like they did under English coach Westwood.

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Rovers started the second half aggressively looking for the equalizer. Jordan Webb came close but shot wide after a momentary lapse from the Bengaluru defence opened up space for him. Soon Alwyn George hit the post after Chhetri and Eugeneson Lyngdoh on the left combined to set him up.

BFC soon settled down and looked like they found their way back to the game with Vineeth getting another opportunity but missed. Soon Rovers’ came close to an equalizer with Muhammad Yasir curling a shot with his left, only to miss the post narrowly.

With game entering its final stage, Chhetri missed a sitter what was possibly easiest chance of the game. The striker had only the goalkeeper in front of him but took a little too much time on the ball and his tame shot was comfortably saved by Izwan. Bengaluru will hope that lack of goals does not come back to haunt them in the second leg.

Throughout the match Bengaluru had a slew of chances to increase their lead but failed to do it. The second leg will be played on 21st September.

AFC Quarter FINAL: Bengaluru FC 1 (CK Vineeth 8’) (INDIA) – Tampine Rovers 0 (SINGAPORE)