Blues becomes third Indian team to qualify for the AFC Cup semi-finals

by Chittu Shetty September 21, 2016

Bengaluru FC moves to semi-finals after a goalless draw in the second leg

I-League champions Bengaluru FC became the third Indian club after Dempo in 2008 and East Bengal in 2013 to reach the AFC Cup semi-finals

Blues held Tampines Rovers of Singapore to a goalless draw in the second leg away clash after going 1-0 up in the home game. Needing a draw from the game, Bengaluru FC came in prepared to take on rovers in counter attacks, while Tampine rovers made their intent of all out attack in the very first few minutes, but neither team managed to break the deadlock at the end as Bengaluru emerged victorious on the basis of aggregate score.

Both rovers and blues started the first few minutes on the attack but both failed to give the finishing touches. Rovers got their first chance in the twelfth minutes when Sujad’s lethal shot from almost thirty yard was parried away for corner by Amrinder Singh.

After blues initial attempts at going forward was easily thwarted away by rovers, Blues sat back and absorbed the pressure as they had no shot on goals in the first thirty minutes.

At the half hour hour mark, Amrinder picked an unnecessary yellow card after being warned before by the referee for time-wasting. The first big chance of the game came for the rovers as Pennat slipped the ball right through for Sujad on the right side of the goal, whose cross inside saw no rovers players taking on. At the other end Blues had a chance from the corner which came off the near post after somehow evading everyone.

In the 39^th minute Bengaluru had a rare chance through a free kick, chipped at the right side of goal for Vineeth whose cross inside just missed the onrushing Lyngdoh by inches. Few minutes away from Half time, Pennant missed a golden chance inside the box, after he chested and volleyed the shot over the bar.

Second half started at an unexpected slow pace as rovers seemed to lack the intensity for a team being goal down. With chances coming for both sides alike, both the team disappointed at the final third. Around the 15 minutes away from full time, rovers missed another good chance after a great ball from pennant for Jordan was played back for Yasir whose volley went straight towards Amrinder. In the very next minute blues had a golden opportunity to go 2-0 up on aggregate after Chhetri’s beautiful chip for a heavily marked Lyngdoh whose final tap went straight towards Rovers keeper Izwan

Also Read: East Bengal ends their Calcutta Football League (CFL) campaign on high

In the last few minutes towards full time, where both sideswere chaotic in the box as neither managed to capitalize on others mistake. Deep in to the Injury time, Blues had a series of chances to put the match to bed first Vishal’s shot was deflected away by Izwan only for Lyngdoh shot to be saved again, as Blues missed them all.

As the final whistle blew, Bengaluru FC confirmed their Semi final spot on the virtue of CK Vineeth’s first leg goal. They will now face Malaysian side Johor Darul Tazim with the first leg of Semi Final on 28 September while the return leg is on October 19.

Tampines XI: Mahbud, Taha, Shafiq, Pennant, Hamzah, Hanapi, Yunos, Sujad, Webb, Shah, Mehmet

Bengaluru XI: Amrinder, Johnson, Juanan, Rino, Nishu, Lyngdoh, Alwyn, Watson, Alvaro, Vineeth, Chhetri

Tampines XI 0 – 0 Bengaluru FC (0-1 on aggregrate)