Thursday , March 28 2024

Bengaluru FC beat TC Sports Club 3-2 in Maldives in first-leg of AFC Cup playoffs!

It took a second-half stunner from Thongkhosiem Haokip as Bengaluru FC came away from the Maldives on the right side of a five-goal thriller, beating TC Sports Club 3-2 at the National Stadium in Male on Tuesday. An Erik Paartalu goal (69′) between a Haokip brace (52′ 78′) gave Albert Roca’s side a vital set of away goals in the first leg of the AFC Cup playoff stage game and the Maldivian side now have their backs against the wall when they travel to the Sree Kanteerava in a week from today.

Having played back-to-back games for the last few weeks, Coach Albert Roca continued to rotate his squad. While Haokip started his second consecutive game, Erik Paartalu began in the middle and Subhasish Bose played as a centre-back.

After a goalless first half which saw little chances, Bengaluru FC started the second with more purpose and six minutes into the restart, got the breakthrough from a set-piece. Toni Dovale swung a corner that Rahul Bheke managed to get a head to before it needed another nod, this time from Haokip, to make it 1-0.

The goal injected the confidence that Bengaluru FC looked bereft of in the first half and the swift passing and spells of possession resumed. But it would be a set-piece that would catch the hosts off-guard again in the 69th minute when Paartalu rose to nod home Dovale’s take from the corner to make it 2-0.

Just when it seemed the Blues had this in the bag, two mistakes in as many minutes saw TC Sports Club claw back into the game. Top scorer for the Maldivian club in the campaign, Anatolii Vlasichev took his tally to five when he smashed home a cut-back from Ibrahim Mahudhee in the 71st minute to pull one back for TC Sports Club. The hosts the got a second in the 73rd when Mahudhee made the most of a lapse from Subhasish to find himself with time and space in the box before shooting past Lalthuammawia Ralte to make it 2-2.

But Haokip and Bengaluru FC weren’t going to leave the island city with spoils shared. Picking the ball 30-yards out, the striker took on two defenders before unleashing a hit that left ‘keeper Ibrahim Nadeem with absolutely no chance.

While the Blues regained their lead, TC Sports Club weren’t willing to surrender. They kept on attacking in the final quarter of the match as Bengaluru FC struggled with injuries. Khabra and Malsawmzuala were replaced by Rahul and Daniel respectively after taking knocks, while Zohmingliana Ralte carried on bravely after the Blues had made all their changes despite taking a severe knock.

The Blues’ backline however, stayed strong in the final minutes of the game to see off a late surge of attacks from TC Sports Club and seal the game 3-2 in their favour. Bengaluru FC now return to Indian Super League duties when they host FC Pune City at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Friday.

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