AFC Cup Preliminary Stage: Bengaluru beat Transport United 3-0, progress To play-off stage

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC made light work of Transport United, beating the club from Bhutan 3-0 at the Kanteerava Stadium, on Tuesday, to progress to the play-off stages of the AFC Cup. Goals from Boithang Haokip (27’), Daniel Lalhlimpuia (54’) and Thongkhosiem Haokip (62’) got the job done for Albert Roca’s side who will now play one of TC Sports Club (Maldives) or Saif (Bangladesh) over two legs for a place in the Group Stages of the continental competition.

Roca’s changes to squad from the one that drew goalless in Bhutan had Juanan Gonzalez, Harmanjot Khabra starting in a XI that had Daniel Lalhlimpuia and Thongkhosiem Haokip paired up in attack. Sunil Chhetri was named on the bench.

After spells of toying with the visitors but struggling to stick the ball at the back of the net, Bengaluru had their opener in the 27th minute when Haokip rose to head home Thongkhosiem’ s chip beyond Hari Gurung. To the Transport United ’keeper’s credit, he pulled off more just a few saves to keep his side alive in the first half. There was a Lalhlimpuia attempt that Gurung palmed over and then a Zohmingliana Ralte header that he clutched on to.

But Lalhlimpuia, who has been fighting hard to end a goal drought, turned up with a beauty in the 54th minute to make it 2-0. Picking the ball 25-yards out, the striker let fly with his left, leaving Gurung absolutely no chance at all.

Bengaluru soon got more comfortable in front of goal and Thongkhosiem got himself on the score sheet in the 62nd minute. Khabra, put the ball over a defender before laying it up for the striker who didn’t struggle with the finish.

Roca, who started the second half with a change, throwing in Subhasish Bose for Gonzalez, handed Myron Mendes his Bengaluru debut when he brought on the youngster for Malsawmzuala.

With a three-goal cushion, Bengaluru were happy to pass the ball around without breaking any sweat. There were a few chances that Gurung kept at bay, while Alwyn George’s dink over the ’keeper in the last minute had a little too much on it.

Bengaluru now switch focus to the Indian Super League where two away games against ATK (Feb 3) and Chennaiyin FC (Feb 6) await Roca’s league-leaders. 

AFC Cup Preliminary Stage: Bengaluru FC play Bhutanese champions Transport United in a must-win clash

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC will look to get the job done when they face Bhutan National League champions Transport United in the second leg of the 2018 AFC Cup Preliminary Round One at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, on Tuesday. Coming back from a goalless draw in Thimphu, the tie hangs in the balance as the winner takes all from the second leg.

Having rolled out a heavily rested side in the reverse fixture, it will be intriguing to see the side that Albert Roca rolls out as he banks on home advantage to progress.

“Transport United are a side that can be dangerous on their day and we can’t take this game lightly. Our fans and the Fortress will provide us that extra bit of push. We know that a win can take us through but we know that the equation is the same for them and that they will put on a strong show,” said Roca on the eve of the clash.  

It was the Blues who dominated the game in Bhutan, creating numerous chances throughout the two halves. However, the boss rued the lack of a finishing tough in the attacking third. “We fell short in terms of finishing last week and that is an area we have been working hard on in our training sessions and I think that will be key to the result.”

The game will the Blues’ third in eight days, and the Boss has hinted that the second leg of the tie might once again see some changes. “We’re playing a game almost every three days and it’s important to make use of the entire squad to keep them in the best shape possible. We must win, but at the same time the focus is on the larger picture. The depth in our squad is big and I know that whoever is given a chance will go out there and do their best.”

The game kicks off at 8 pm.

Bengaluru held to a goalless draw by Transport United

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru will have their task cut out at the Fortress a week from now, needing a clear win to progress to the second round of qualifiers in the 2018 AFC Cup after a goalless draw against Transport United in the first leg of the Preliminary stage clash at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Tuesday. 

With the Blues failing to break down the Bhutan side’s resolute defending the tie is still open as the winner on January 30th will seal a place in the playoff stages. 

Having traveled with a relatively young squad, Coach Albert Roca started with skipper Lalthuammawia Ralte in goal as midfielders Malsawmzuala and Alwyn George along with defender Zohmingliana Ralte and striker Daniel Lalhlimpuia were handed their first starts of the season. Bengaluru boy Prashanth Kalinga started in a four-man defense, making his much-anticipated first team debut after coming through the youth ranks at the club. 

The game began slowly with both sides opting to play cautiously. The Blues weren’t affected by the conditions, as temperatures dropped to as low as six degrees Celsius, as they continued to play their normal passing game. It took half an hour for the first real chance of the game, as Boithang Haokip’s perfect corner-kick from the right found Toni Dovale clear at the edge of the box. The Spaniard however, failed to make the desired connection. 

The second half burst to life almost immediately as Daniel found himself gifted with back-to-back chances inside five minutes. The striker blazed wide on both occasions, failing to convert after some good work by Toni, who set him up inside the box.

The chances were few and far between but Bengaluru kept control for majority of the proceedings as the lack of finishing did no favours for Roca’s men. Two more chances at the end of the game, one through Lenny Rodrigues’ long ranger four minutes past the hour mark and from a Daniel shot moments later, forced the rival custodian into saves that he pulled off without fuss.

Roca made three changes in the final quarter hoping to break down the home side’s defense and handed debuts to Thongkhosiem Haokip, Joyner Lourenco and Cletus Paul. United however, managed to defend deep and keep the scoreline unchanged as the tie remained open heading into the second leg.

The Blues now return to Indian Super League duties where they host NorthEast United on Friday before facing Transport United at the Fortress on 30th January in the second leg.

AFC Cup: Bengaluru take on Bhutanese side Transport United in Thimphu

Bengaluru FC Media  

Bengaluru FC resume their rendezvous with continental competition in picturesque Bhutan where Albert Roca’s boys take on Transport United in an AFC Cup preliminary round fixture at the Changlimithang Stadium, in the capital, on Tuesday.

The Blues have made the trip with a relatively young squad that includes four players from the Bengaluru FC ‘B’ team along with a few experienced hands in Lenny Rodrigues, Lalthuammawia Ralte, Toni Dovale and Alwyn George among others and Roca is confident that the squad will make the chance count. “As a coach you want to utilise your complete squad as much as possible and this game is a chance for those players who have been training hard and waiting to deliver. I must also look after the players who are playing week in, week out in the Indian Super League. This team has players who played an AFC Cup final and tomorrow I expect them to lead by example,” said Roca while addressing the press on Monday.

In Transport United, Bengaluru will be up against the Bhutan National League champions who went through the entire 2017 league season unbeaten. However, with just six teams competing in the top tier, gauging their supremacy is a tad bit difficult. “Transport United are opponents who we do not have too much information about which makes things a little tricky for us. But from whatever little we have seen over videos, you can tell they are a good side.”

The team from Bhutan aside, Bengaluru will also have to contend with playing in high altitude and temperatures drop to anywhere between 2 and 6 degrees in the evenings. “The conditions will surely be a challenge for us and we will have to stick to the plan if we are to balance all factors surrounding this game.” Added Roca.

Finalists in the 2016 edition of the tournament, Bengaluru fell short in the regional final last year and Roca said he was aware of the expectations surrounding the club in Asian competition. “We have shown we can be consistent at a very good level and tomorrow we start all over again.” 

For the record, Bhutan is the 13th different country that the Blues will travel to play in Asian Competitions since their debut on the continental stage `2015. While the clash marks the debut of Transport United in the AFC Cup, the occasion will also be the first time Bengaluru play in the preliminary and play off stage of the competition, after the format change in 2017.

The reverse fixture of this tie will be played at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on January 30 before which Bengaluru FC will host NorthEast United in an Indian Super League fixture. The game in Thimphu kicks off at 5.30 pm IST.

Bengaluru FC announce 30-man squad for AFC Cup Preliminary and Play-Off Stages

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC have named a 30-man squad for the upcoming Preliminary and Play-Off Stages of the 2018 edition of the AFC Cup, the club announced on Saturday. The squad which departed for Delhi earlier in the day, will travel to Thimphu in Bhutan on Sunday where they face Transport United on January 23rd. 

The qualifying stage squad consists of as many as seven young players from the BFC ‘B’ setup and making the cut are Asheer Akhtar, Myron Mendes, Cletus Paul, Robinson Singh Khumukcham and Bidyananda Singh. Joining them are BFC Academy Graduates Leon Augustine and Prashanth Kalinga, who were also part of the 2017 AFC Cup squad and along with Robinson, travelled with the first team to Spain for the preseason. 

Among the foreigners, Erik Paartalu fills the Asian quota as Juanan Gonzalez, Dimas Delgado and Toni Dovale complete the four-man line-up.

The Blues who fell short of making it to their second successive final in one of the biggest competitions in Asian football, are eager of improving on their performance this season after booking their place in the competition courtesy of the Federation Cup win in May 2017. However, Bengaluru who finished as the South Zone toppers in 2017, will have to go through the two-stage qualifying phase to make it to the group stage this year.

Up against Bhutan National League 2017 champions in the first leg of the Preliminary Round on Tuesday, 23rd January, the Blues will host the second leg against Transport United at the Fortress a week later, on 30th January. Should they make through to the Play-Off stage, Bengaluru will be up against the winner of the second preliminary round tie in the South zone between Bangladesh’s Saif Sporting Club and TC Sports Club from Maldives. The winner of the two-legged Play-Off scheduled on 13th and 20th February will grab the fourth spot in the South zone of the AFC Cup Group Stages. 

Ahead of the team’s departure to Thimphu, Head Coach Albert Roca said, “It’s very important for us to make use of the entire squad. We’re the only ISL team playing Asian competition this season, and our schedule is hectic. But this is what we always wanted, to represent India in Asia, so there’s no complaints. With the competition rules, we can only play four foreigners so that provides a good opportunity for all our Indian boys, especially the youngsters to rise to the occasion. Our ‘B’ team players have been working hard, and that’s why they have been brought into the squad and I hope they will respond to the occasion.”

Squad

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Lalthuammawia Ralte, Abhra Mondal, Calvin Abhishek

Defenders: Zohmingliana Ralte, Juanan Gonzalez, Joyner Lourenco, Asheer Akhtar, Rahul Bheke, Collin Abranches, Harmanjot Khabra, Prashanth Kalinga, Nishu Kumar, Subhasish Bose

Midfielders: Erik Paartalu, Dimas Delgado, Lenny Rodrigues, Malsawmzuala, Leon Augustine, Robinson Singh Khumukcham, Bidyananda Singh, Myron Mendes, Boithang Haokip, Alwyn George

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh, Daniel Lalhlimpuia. Toni Dovale, Cletus Paul, Thongkhosiem Haokip