Bengaluru FC defeat Lao Toyota and make AFC Cup round of 16 again

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC sealed a spot in the Round of 16 of the AFC Cup after goals from Eugeneson Lyngdoh (45th) and Kim Song Yong (60th) in either half gave Bengaluru FC a 2-1 win over Lao Toyota FC at the Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Wednesday.

Three points confirmed second place in Group H for the I-League champions with a game in hand against Group leaders and Cup holders Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia. Bengaluru’s opponents will be the leaders of Group F where the battle to pole position is a three-way race between Kitchee (Hong Kong), Kaya (Philippines) and Balestier Khalsa (Singapore) that will be decided in the last round.

The game got off to a rather somber start with Bengaluru happy to ping the ball around and keep as much possession as possible while looking for an opening between Lao’s defensive lines.

Bengaluru began mounting the pressure as the half wore on with Udanta Singh and Sunil Chhetri finding themselves in dangerous positions in the Lao box only to scuff their shots wide. Kim Song Yong then set off on a brilliant solo run from the half line to the Lao box only to shoot over.
But the surge did enough to suggest a Bengaluru FC goal and Lyngdoh picked the first minute of added time to strike. 

A set of swift passes saw Michael Collins float in a cross from the right as Lyngdoh rose and sent his gracefully glanced header way beyond Vathana Keodouangdeth’s reach.

Bengaluru made it 2-0 on the hour mark when Chhetri squared Lyngdoh’s pass to Kim who finished without ado. The North Korean striker had, only a minute earlier, unselfishly teed up Udanta who was inches away from getting a touch with an open goal at his mercy.

But Lao soon pulled a goal back against the run of play when striker Kazuo Homma rose to head in a freekick in the 67th minute to make it 2-1. The goal was followed by the sending off of Ashley Westwood after he protested about Lao Toyota taking the freekick 10 yards ahead of the spot from where it was awarded.

Hopes of a Lao comeback were dealt a hurdle with when the visitors were reduced to 10 men at the death after defender Saynakhonevieng Phommapanya received his marching orders. The side from Laos tried to work out an opening as the game meandered to its end but the Bengaluru FC defence and goalkeeper Amrinder Singh held strong, decisively claiming speculative long balls in and around the Bengaluru penalty box. 

Lao Toyota defeat Bengaluru FC 2-1 in AFC Cup opener

Bengaluru FC Media 

A late Bengaluru FC charge wasn't enough as Ashley Westwood's side went down 2-1 to Lao Toyota FC in their Group H opener of the AFC Cup, in Vientiane, on Wednesday.

Bengaluru found themselves a goal down in as early as the third minute through Kazuo Homma and a Phatthana Syvilay free-kick in the 35th minute made it 2-0 before half-time. The second half sending off of defender Moukda Souksavath turned the tide towards Bengaluru, who pulled one back in the 91st minute through CK Vineeth but it was too little too late for the Blues who should have done better in the box. 

Earlier, Westwood, missing skipper Sunil Chhetri with an injury, started with Kim Song Yong, CK Vineeth and Beikhokhei Beingaichho in attack.

But before the Blues could settle down and string together a rhythm, Lao Toyota capitalised on a defensive lapse to grab the lead. Squirming out of the box from a muddle, Curtis Osano had the ball stolen from his feet by Itsuki Yamada who slid in the experienced Homma through and the seasoned Japanese striker obliged with the simplest of finishes. 

But despite the early hiccup, Bengaluru regrouped rather quickly and had a couple of half chances. Being picked out by a pass from the middle, Vineeth beat the off-side trap before cutting back for Alwyn George who Bengaluru players thought was brought down before he could take a shot but referee Yu Ming Hsun would have none of it.

Just when Bengaluru were getting into some sort of a groove, Lao landed a blow through a free-kick that the Blues needlessly conceded. It started when Ralte's attempt to pick out Alwyn was intercepted forcing the 'keeper to charge out of his box to thwart the shot at goal. However, the Blues were livid after the assistant referee raised his flag for a handball while the ball had struck Ralte square in the stomach. Hsun waived off the angry protests before booking Ralte and awarding Lao with a free-kick five yards outside the box that eventually lead to the goal. 

Westwood effected two changes at half time, bringing on Udanta Singh and Malsawmzuala for Beikhokhei Beingaichho and Alwyn. The injection of pace down the right quickly began causing Lao trouble and Bengalauru could have had a goal in the 51st minute when Udanta slid Collins in, only for the midfielder to shoot straight at Lao 'keeper Vathana Keodouangdeth. 

The red card in the 65th minute gave Bengaluru time to capitalise on the man advantage and Westwood soon introduced striker Daniel Lalhlimpuia who played his first game for Bengaluru, in the 70th minute. 

The last twenty minutes was all Bengaluru FC where Kim, Collins and Udanta, all had chances that they should have put away. The goal did come when Vineeth, slid in down the left, lost his man and shot past Vathana in the first minute of additional time. With four minutes of additional time to play for, Lalchhuanmawia had a flash at goal only to see it clip the shoulder of the post and fly out. A free-kick was the final throw of the dice for Bengaluru but the equaliser just wasn't meant to be.

The Blues return to the city where they host Aizawl FC on Sunday as action in the I-League resumes for Westwood's side.  

Bengaluru begin AFC Cup campaign with Lao Toyota test, Chhetri to miss tie

Bengaluru FC Media 

Ashley Westwood said his team's tryst with continental football last season will hopefully hold them in good stead as Bengaluru FC kick-start their 2016 AFC Cup campaign when they come up against Lao Toyota FC in a Group H opener at the National Stadium, in Vientiane, on Wednesday.

The Blues arrived in the capital on Sunday morning before putting in two training sessions on Monday and Tuesday and the gaffer said preparations for the game were on track. "We've been here two days which was good because the players have had time to acclimatize. We've had a look at the pitch, we've had a little football and the lads are keen to get going," said Westwood while addressing the press on Tuesday.

The big absentee for the Blues is skipper Sunil Chhetri who hasn't made the trip owing to a strained groin while Eugeneson Lyngdoh continues his recuperation from a fracture. However, young striker Daniel Lalhlimpuia is in the reckoning after recovering from a knee injury that had kept him on the sidelines for over a month.

Lao Toyota, like Bengaluru, were established in 2013 and made the AFC Cup group stages by virtue of being the Lao Premier League champions last season. Their previous and only AFC Cup journey ended with an exit in the group stages last season after three draws and three defeats.

While Bengaluru have never faced Lao Toyota, Westwood said that his team had been studying some footage of their opponents. "We've watched a few videos from last season given that the League here hasn't begun as yet and we are well aware of what we are up against. The Lao players are technically and physically good and will prove tough opposition. We've played in Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore and Hong Kong and we know the standard and level that Asia demands. Hopefully, we will give a good account of ourselves," said Westwood.

Bengaluru put up a good show in Asia last season, coming out of the group stages behind Indonesian side Persipura Jayapura before going down 2-0 to South China in the Round-of-16.

Malaysian team and current AFC Cup champions Johor Darul Ta'zim FC and Ayeyawady United FC from Myanmar complete Group H - one that Westwood tips Johor to be the favourites of. "If you see where they are and what they've done, I think Johor are the favourites. They've also had a huge injection of money where they have signed some players. After that, it's between us, Lao Toyota and Ayeyawady," said Westwood.

The game kicks off at 4.30 pm IST.