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 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