Bengaluru: After a goalless first leg draw against Transport United, the onus was on Bengaluru FC to complete the job on home turf and that’s exactly what they did, ending up 3-0 winners in their AFC Cup Preliminary round second leg tie in front of a sparse nonetheless enthusiastic midweek crowd at the Kanteerava Stadium on Tuesday.
The Blues fielded a similar line-up to the side that played in Thimpu last week - blooding in the academy and fringe players with a few regular starters. Juanan and Harmonjot Khabra replaced Subhasish Bose and academy graduate Prashant Kalinga in defence, whilst forward Thongkhosiem Haokip, better known as Semboi, made his first start for the club.
Ever the dominant side in Thimpu, BFC carried that vigour into this fixture and were on the front foot from kickoff. Khabra and wingback Nishu Kumar advanced forever with intent, getting beyond the opposition fullbacks and playing troubling balls in. One such ball was met by Anotonio Dovale who blasted high for the first chance; a sign of things to come.
The Bhutanese side were content with playing on the counter, with winger Kencho Tobgay and striker Eze Collins being the furthest men forward in a 4-3-3 formation. Chances were few and far between for the visitors, but Tobgay did trouble the Bengaluru FC on one or two occasions.
Despite a string of good saves by Transport United’s Hari Gurung, the goalkeeper couldn’t save defender Boithang Haokip’s header after he was fed by the industrious Semboi on the right flank for the first goal in the 27th minute.
With a host of chances in the first half, BFC somehow contrived to keep the scoreline at 1-0 with the opposition defence trying to stay resolute.
The second half ensued, and Semboi, who’d been a livewire throughout the first period, fed striker Daniel Lahlimpuia who unleashed a powerful drive into the bottom corner from 23 yards out. BFC had doubled up in the 57th minute.
The closest Transport came to scoring was when Thinley Dorji forced Lalthuammawia Ralte to tip over from a freekick shortly after. It was done and dusted at 3-0 in the 62nd minute when Dovale looped over for the onrushing Khabra on the by-line, who cut back to Semboi. The midfielder deservedly got on the scoresheet with a chested finish in the bottom corner.
Thus, Bengaluru FC advanced to the AFC Cup South play-off stage and are one step away from qualifying for the group stage of the tournament.
