AFC Cup: Persipura Jayapura vs Bengaluru FC - Match preview
Indian champions Bengaluru FC visit Indonesia to take on local side Persipura Jayapura on Tuesday for a crucial Group E tie in the AFC Cup. Both the teams are on 3 points after winning their respective opening games.
Bengaluru FC will miss the services of 6 important first team players due to national team commitments. Also, they will be playing in home conditions. A win would be an appropriate result for the home side while the away team will look to secure at least a point from this encounter.
Venue
Mandala Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Jayapura, Papua province, Indonesia. It is the home stadium of Persipura Jayapura. The stadium holds 30,000 people. Currently, the stadium is being upgraded so it will reach the capacity target of 50,000 people upon completion.
Kick-off
March 10, 2015: 12:00 pm – India (IST)
Starting XIs (Probable)
Bengaluru FC (4-5-1): Lalthuammawia Ralte; Shankar Sampingiraj, John Johnson, Curtis Osano, Nanjangud Shivananju Manju; Josh Walker, Siam Hangal, Thoi Singh, Beikhokhei Beingaichho, Sean Rooney; Udanta Singh
Ashley Westwood will miss the services of six first team players, who have national commitments to fulfill. In their absence, the Brit is likely to test his bench strength fielding some young players like Siam Hangal. Also, in the absence of Sunil Chhetri and Robin Singh, young striker Udanta Singh may get first-team action. He is expected to be supported by Beikhokhei and Sean Rooney on the wings.
Persipura Jayapura (4-3-3): Dede Sulaiman; Ruben Sanadi, Ricardo Salampessy, Domingoes Fakdawer, Tinus Pae, Immanuel Wanggai, Nelson Alom, Robertino Pugliara; Lancine Kone, Ian Kabes, Boaz Solossa
Persipura Jayapura will look forward to collect full points from this home tie against Indian champions Bengaluru FC on Tuesday in Indonesia. They are likely to field an unchanged side which beat Warriors couple of weeks back in the opening match of the AFC Cup.
Key Battles
Boaz Solossa vs John Johnson
Boaz Solossa is one of the best Indonesian players in the country. He plays mostly as a striker in the Persipura side, but has the ability to track back and help the midfielders too. He creates chances and also scores quite frequently and is their most dangerous player. To stop Persipura from the scoring goals, John Johnson will have to mark Solossa hard in tomorrow’s clash.
Sean Rooney vs Ricardo Salampessy
In Sunil Chhetri’s absence, Sean Rooney is the most formidable attacker in the Bengaluru FC squad for tomorrow’s games against Persipura. Rooney scored two fantastic goals in Bengaluru FC’s last competitive match in the I-League match against Sporting Clube de Goa. Ricardo Salampessy of Persipura must keep a check on the Australian forward.
Prediction
Persipura Jayapura 1-0 Bengaluru FC