Bengaluru turn the lights out for Lao Toyota with a 2-1 win to qualify for AFC Cup knockouts
NEEDING AT LEAST a point to make it to the next second round of the AFC Cup, Bengaluru FC got that and more out of Lao Toyota at Kanteerava tonight, as Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Kim Song-yong managed to net a goal apiece to secure a 2-1 victory for the I-League champions.
The Blues started the game strongly, keeping most of the ball and sniffing around in the final third. Udanta took a crack that earned them a corner. From the flag kick Kim Song-yong got a header on target that was saved well by the goalie.
Struggling to get close to the BFC goal, Lao Toyota's first attempt came in the form of a long ranger from Khouanta that Amrinder Singh did well to save.
Udanta replied with another pile-driver that the keeper had to be alert to keep out. Sunil Chhetri tried his luck as well but sent it wide.
Just when it seemed like the first half was going to end goalless, who else but Eugeneson Lyngdoh changed the whole equation with his exquisite header a few seconds into added time. The ball came from Michael Collins and the Indian international's header was a vision of perfection, sending the ball spinning towards the corner of the net, leaving the keeper with no chance to save it at all. Bengaluru FC got an all-important lead in the game just before lemon break.
Michael Collins should have got another assist early in the second half when he set up Sunil Chhetri to tap in from less than 10 yars out. The mis-timed shot took a deflection off the keeper and went out.
But the skipper more than made up for his mistake only minutes later when he ran into the box from the left and sent the ball to an onrushing Kim Song-yong who had an empty goal to tap into. 2-0 and BFC were well on their way to another spectacular win in Asia.
But their glittering performance wasn't enough to keep the lights on at Kanteerava. A floodlight failure on the stand behind East Upper B caused the game to come to a halt and took away the momentum from the home team a bit. And right after play resumed, Kazuo Honma got on the back on a Yamada free kick and found the net with his header. 2-1, and Lao Toyota were raring to fight back.
But soon BFC consolidated their defence and regained control. Kim Song-yong almost got his second in the night as John Johnson set him up but the keeper kept it out. And then Saynakhonevieng thought it would be nice to practically crash into CK Vineeth, feet first. The referee called it a foul immediately and flashed the red card. Down to 10 men, Lao Toyota didn't have a chance. They were effectively knocked out of the tournament as Bengaluru FC sealed their second position in Group H, getting to 9 points from 5 matches, behind Johor Darul Ta'zim (15 from 5) who beat Ayeyawadi United earlier today.
It was a giant relief for Westwood, because his boys returned to winning ways just days before they plunge head-long into the battle to defend their Federation Cup crown. The last group stage match against Johor, which falls in the middle of the thick Fed Cup fixtures, is inconsequential in terms of qualifying for the next round; and the BFC gaffer can rest his boys and have one less thing to worry about. Because the Blues have done it; after back to back defeats at the start of their AFC Cup campaign, they had successfully turned it around to earn their place in the knockouts.
