AFC CUP 2018: "I missed a penalty after two years" BFC's Daniel Segovia
Bengaluru FC beat hosted Aizawl FC 3-1 in their Group E (South East Asian Group) encounter in Guwahati today. Bengaluru scripted an emphatic comeback from being a goal down within 5 minutes to win the game 3-1.
With the win today Bengaluru go to the top of the table and, will be looking to get a win the crucial game against New Radiant of Maldives to solidify their position as group leaders.
While Dodoz opened the scoring for Aizawl, Daniel Segovia equalised just before half-time through a penalty, while Rahul Bheke and Daniel Lalhlimpuia scored in the second half to get all three points for Albert Rocca’s men on a windy rainy evening in Guwahati.
Daniel Segovia scored one penalty, but also missed a penalty in the second half when his shot hit the post and went wide. The 32-year-old Spanish player said that the miss wasn’t a big deal for his teammates as they managed to score one back right after a few minutes from his penalty miss, but on a personal level, it did hurt him as he had missed a penalty after two years. Speaking about his time in Bengaluru, Daniel said “I am happy to be here in BFC, it is like a family here and I want to keep playing and do well in the two tournaments we are playing in and go till the end in both of them”
Albert Rocca mentioned that even though the scoreline looks highly in favour of Bengaluru FC the game wasn’t at all easy, he went on to add that “ It wasn’t an easy game for us, especially after going down within 5 minutes, but my boys showed the right attitude and we won the game”
He also mentioned that keeping in mind their congested fixtures in the Super Cup and AFC Cup, he has to keep rotating the players to keep everyone in proper playing condition.
When questioned about the conditions tonight and if the rain had any effect on the game Rocca said that they didn’t face any problems and that he had no complaints about the conditions and weather and were happy to get the three points, in what is a tough group in the AFC Cup as only one team will make it through to the next round.
Aizawl FC coach Santosh Kashyap blamed the defeat on his players' silly mistakes and feels that it wasn’t their day today.”It was due to my goalkeeper's silly mistakes, that we had to concede the goals, but it happens in football” is what Kashyap said about the defeat today.
Santosh Kashyap also felt that missing Kimkima who is probably his main defender hampered his team’s structure and that led to his side’s defeat.
When asked about his decision to play Afghan defender Masih Saigani in midfield rather than in defence Kashyap said that he feels Saigani is an attacking player rather than a defensive player and that is why he played the Afghani defender as a midfielder.
With the loss today Aizawl drop to the bottom spot of the table and need to win their tie against Dhaka Abahani if they are to have any hopes of qualifying in the next round of the competition.