Bengaluru FC knocked out of AFC Cup after penalty shoot-out setback against Maziya S&RC

Bengaluru FC crashed out of the AFC Cup 2020 after going down 3-4 (4-4 aggregate) in the penalty shoot-out against Maldives’ Maziya S&RC in the second leg of the qualifying play-offs on Wednesday at the Shree Kanteerava Stadium.

The tie had ended 3-2 in favour of Bengaluru FC after 120 minutes. Deshorn Brown (58′) and Sunil Chhetri (80′ and 120+1′) scored for the hosts while Ibrahim Hassan (74′) and Cornelius Stewart (102′) were in target for the visitors.

Only four players, Juanan, Erik Paartalu, Nili Perdomo and Ashique Kuruniyan kept their place in the Bengaluru FC starting lineup from their first leg tie against Maziya S&RC. Skipper Sunil Chhetri started on the bench.

Bengaluru FC commanded proceedings right from the beginning and create more chances in the first half than visitors. Maziya, who were carrying a 2-1 lead into the second leg, took a pragmatic approach.

Nili Perdomo and Erik Paartalu came closest to break the deadlock. While Spaniard’s shot from the edge of the box was stopped by the opposition custodian, the Australian’s pile driver from long range hit the upright and came back.

Desperate for a goal, Carles Cuadrat brought in skipper Sunil Chhetri replacing an ineffective Ashique Kuruniyan in the 53rd minute of the match.

The Blues finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute thanks to Deshorn Brown’s strike. Suresh Wangjam made a tremendous run down the left flank before cutting in and set up the pass for the Jamaican striker who slotted the ball home.

Ibrahim Waheed Hassan scored an equaliser in the 74th minute as the Maldivian club took a lead in the aggregate but Chhetri proved to be a ‘super sub’ as he handed Bengaluru the much needed lead within six minutes of conceding. The Blues skipper scored from Nili Perdomo’s assist.

Bengaluru held on to their lead in the match until full time as the match went into extra time. But Maziya again scored in the 102nd minute of the match as Cornelius Stewart found the back of the net.

Sunil Chhetri then converted a brilliant free-kick in the dying moments of the extra time as Bengaluru equalised on aggregate and the match went into penalties.

Rahul Bheke and Parag Srivas missed their penalties as the Blues went down 3-4 in penalty shootout to crash out of the competition.