AFC Cup: Sunil Chhetri strike earns fortunate Bengaluru FC 1-0 win over Ayeyawady FC
Bengaluru FC earned a pivotal 1-0 win away to Burmese outfit Ayeyawady FC in their AFC Cup group stage encounter. Sunil Chhetri gave the Blues the lead in the first half, and both sides missed gilt-edged chances to score. BFC earn their first points in the AFC Cup which offers them a lifeline after losing their first two group games.
First Half
As the teams walked out to the sweltering heat of Yangon in the bright sunlight enveloping the Youth Training Centre, the lack of spectators belied the importance of this pivotal AFC Cup clash. Given that Bengaluru FC had yet to score any points and were bottom of their group, it was not a surprise to see the visitors do most of the running from the off, with Chhuantea quite bright down the left wing.
After snuffing out a couple of threatening Ayeyawady attacks, BFC had their first big opportunity in the 18th minute when Collins sent Chhuantea free down the left wing, but his cross from the byline was underhit and unable to reach an unmarked Kim Song-Yong. The conditions reflected in the play as the half wore on, with plenty of sloppy passes in the game; it did result in a water break in the 28th minute though.
BFC ough to have taken the lead through a Johnson header from an Udanta corner in the 33rd minute, but it did not matter as the Blues took the lead with a mishit Sunil Chhetri shot moments later. The BFC skipper was too embarrassed to celebrate his 34th minute strike from an Udanta cutback down the left, as his miscue wrongfooted the Ayeyawady keeper and bobbled into the net, thus giving BFC the lead.
Amrinder nearly gifted the hosts an equaliser as the first half ended, conceding an indirect free kick in the box after holding on to the ball for too long. Chizoba’s shot from the resulting set-piece narrowly curved wide, as BFC were relieved to go into the break with their lead intact.
Second Half
Bengaluru FC started the second half much like the started the first, with a spell of possession that resulted in a couple of threatening situations down the left wing. However, Ayeyawady came back strongly, with Johnson’s brilliant tackle denying Chizoba the chance to set free a countering Win in the box.
The hosts ought to have scored from a number of chances as the hour mark neared, with Zaw the biggest culprit. The Ayeyawady attacker ought to have done better after a sqaure pass found him free in the box, but he shot straight at Amrinder, while shooting wide when Win found him with another cutback minutes later.
BFC had their backs to the wall and were diving around making blocks in the box, and welcomed the water break in the 69th minute, hoping it would stem Ayeyawady’s attacks. However, the hosts continued in their attacks and should have equalized when Chizoba got away from Johnson and ran clear on goal. However, the striker dallied, which allowed Chhuantea to close in and block his cross to an unmarked Zaw.
The visitors had a great chance to seal matters in the 79th minute but CK Vineeth could only hit the ball staight at the Ayeyawady keeper when sent clean through for a one-on-one. The visitors missed another incredible chance in the 82nd minute as Udanta made a stunning run with the ball deep from the BFC half, and with Vineeth and Chhetri facing open goals, selfishly opted to shoot, with the Ayeyawady keeper palming the ball away.
As the game reached it’s final moments, Chizoba almost made the Blues pay, as he weaved his way past a couple of challenges in the box, but shot over with his left foot. BFC nervously saw out 4 minutes of injury time, as Ayeyawady pressed for a late equalizer, but the referee blew for full time thus giving BFC their first points in the AFC Cup.