India’s champions Bengaluru FC made a winning start to the 2015 edition of AFC Cup with a 2-1 win over Maziya S&RC. Shankar’s late winner gave the Blues a perfect start in the continental competition.
For those uninitiated, AFC Cup is Asian version of UEFA’s Europa League with a twist. In AFC Cup only developing nations can participate with the nations are given automatic berths in group stages according to their nations performance in AFC competitions in past four years.
Coming back to the match, this was BFC’s first ever match in the competition and they made a dramatic start in the competition. The match began in typical fashion as Bengaluru controlled the game from the outset.
Both the teams exchanged the early blows but it was a series of close misses from Bengaluru’s Robin Singh as he came agonizingly close to open the scoring in the first half.
The second half began ditto like the first and it took 67 minutes for the hosts to break down their Maldivian opponents. Sunil Chhetri scored the club’s first ever goal in the completion by heading the ball from close range.
Drama unfolded as Maziya was awarded a late penalty due to a silly handball by Hanghal. Umair steeped up for the visitors to take the penalty and successfully converted it. It seemed the match was heading for a draw but the visitors were in for a surprise.
Lyngdoh and Shankar combined in the very last minute of the game to seal the deal for the hosts as they won the game in emphatic fashion.
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