Male: A brace from captain Sunil Chhetri helped I-League champions JSW Bengaluru FC to a 2-1 win at Maziya Sports & Recreation in Group E of the AFC Cup on Tuesday to confirm his side’s passage to the Round of 16 and in turn eliminate the Maldivians.
Maziya went into the game at the National Stadium knowing only a win would keep their hopes of progression alive, and they took the lead on the hour mark through Spanish striker Pablo Rodriguez.
But the visitors came back strongly and India’s record goalscorer Chettri scored from the spot after 70 minutes before netting the winner with 12 minutes to go.
Bengaluru now go into their final group game in a fortnight’s time a point behind group leaders Persipura Jayapura knowing a home win will see them claim the all-important top spot ahead of the Indonesians, who also secured their qualification to the last 16 with a 6-0 hammering of Singapore’s Warriors FC in Tuesday’s other Group E game.
“I am happy with the result as it’s what we wanted when we came here. It was a hot day and we faced some difficulties,” said Bengaluru coach Ashley Westwood.
“We were one goal down in the second half but things changed and we scored twice; I would say the lads put in a great effort.
“We have qualified for the second round and now we will be working hard to get first place in the group.”
The hosts had the first chance of note in the 10th minute when defender Mohamed Samdhooh crossed for Rodriguez, but he headed wide from just a few yards out.
It was the visitors that had the better of a goalless first half, though, with Chhetri twice going close and forward Robin Singh seeing his header from a Rino Anto corner rebound back off the woodwork.
But it was the Maldivians who grabbed the first goal of the game on the hour when Rodriguez made amends for his earlier miss with a nice finish from inside the box after a fine cross by Samdhooh from the left.
The Indian champions continued to pressurise, though, and were awarded a penalty with 20 minutes remaining when defender Mohamed Saaif was adjudged to have handled substitute Sean Rooney’s cross, and Chhetri calmly tucked away the ensuing penalty to goalkeeper Mohamed Imran’s left.
Chhetri then doubled his and his team’s tally in the 78th minute when he superbly volleyed home after great set up play by forward Udanta Singh.
Rodriguez almost drew his side level with five minutes left on the clock, but his diving header from midfielder Ahmed Imaaz’s cross rebounded back off the bar and Bengaluru held out to book their place in the last 16.
“I am very disappointed with this result as it was a group that we could have progressed from. In the two games we played against Bengaluru we missed so many chances and that killed us,” said Maziya coach Ali Suzain.
“It was not a normal game and my players didn’t put their full effort in to win it. We had some good chances to score but unfortunately we couldn’t convert those to a goal.”
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