Chhetri’s wonder free kick sends Bengaluru through to the next round of the AFC Cup

NEEDING A WIN AT HOME was on the mind of the Bengaluru FC players and they came out and put on a show but were given a good fight in all departments by Maziya.

Chhetri made his comeback into the team and started alongside Vineeth. Khabra was placed on the right wing for the injured Udanta Singh. The back line was familiar with Juan, Johnson, Nishu and Jhingan. The mids consisted of Watson, Lyngdoh, and George.

Allwyn was sent through with a good move between Jhingan and Khabra. But Allwyn too one touch too many and lost the ball in the box. Rakic’s header in the 17 minutes rattled the upright. A pin-point cross from the right had Rakic’s powerful header being denied by the post.

Just past the half hour mark, Vineeth was in the box and asked for the ball to be played to him. He got the ball down but it hit his hand. A moment of scare came for the home team when a bit of mix up between BFC defence and the keeper had Habeeb take advantage of it and shot on goal. Amirinder held onto the weak shot on target.

About 7 minutes remaining in the first half, Maziya come ahead with Irufaan on the ball. He saw no option to pass and unleashed a strike on goal. Amrinder dived to his right and made the save from the lethal drive. A dangerous cross was sent in the box from BFC’s left wing,Maziya clear the ball with ease as they positioned themselves well.

The first half finished goalless as both teams made considerable headway towards goal. Maziya came closest to scoring twice as the post denied them once and another was saved by Arminder. Bengaluru FC with all the possession failed to test the Maziya keeper or cause problems to the well positioned Maziya defence.

The second half had Bengaluru’s Johnson create a chance but a last ditch tackle saved Maziya from conceding. A momentary lapse by the Maziya defence had them conceded a free kick right at the edge of the box. Watson and Chhetri stood over the ball. Chhetri took the kick, the ball sailed iver the over the wall and with power past the keeper to give his team the lead.

There was a bit of a tiff near the half line when Chhetri slide in to win the ball and Ashadh came dangerously onto to Nishu and got into the book for that. Bengaluru FC were sweating as Maziya came very close to scoring minutes after going down. Maziya player was in the box and took one two defenders and got his shot away. BFC failed to clear the loose ball and another Maziya man came rushing to latch on a near dead ball close to the 6-yard box. His shot went narrowly past the left upright.

Lenny came on for Allwyn George in the second half and Daniel replaced Vineeth. Maziya also made a change to bring on Hasan in place of Ashadulla in the last quarter of the match.  Daniel almost had a golden touch as he was played in space inside the box by Chhetri who has passed the ball between two defenders. The pass to Daniel was ran away from him for a goal kick.

Great chance to seal the game as Bengaluru broke into a counter with Daniel among the two BFC men forward against Maziya’s one. Daniel took a bit too long and the ball was stuck under his feet as the defender came and carried the ball away. The remaining 10 minutes were Maziya’s desperate attempts to get the ball in the box in the hope to find the equaliser but the Bengaluru FC defence held on.

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