Male: Indian club Bengaluru FC started their season on a positive record when they recorded a 1-0 victory over the Maldives’ Club Eagles in the AFC Cup playoff match on Sunday.
The victory of his own goal brought Marco Pezzaiuoli’s troops to group D from the continental competition, where ATK Mohun Bagan, Bashundhara Kings and Maziya S & RC waited.
The Blues will face ATK Mohun Bagan in the opening clash of group D on Wednesday.
Midfielder Jayesh Rane scored, what turned out to be a goal alone, in the 26th minute at the National Stadium.
The two teams were not the best in the first 45 minutes but the former Indian Super League (ISL) champion BFC managed to defend their leaders through the game.
The Local Eagles Club Outfit looks impressive on the wings with their speed but the Indian club is the same as the assignment, with Rane placing the visitors going forward before half an hour.
Rane fired a strong low shot from the box and gave Bangaloo the advantage that was very much needed.
While BFC tried to get control of the trial of the word go, they looked more confident after leading, enjoying more ownership while moving the ball around.
However, the visitors were almost conceded equalizer just before Lemon rested, when defender Sarthak Golui almost put the ball into his own net from the corner of the Eagles before his goal Gurpreet Singh Sandhu came to the rescue team and maintained tin remains intact.
The BFC continued to maintain ownership at the beginning of the second half but almost no action of Goalmouth with intended visitors only adhering to the advantages and hosts struggling to draw parity.
In the 65th minute, Bengaluru FC safely scare because Ali Fasir had a golden opportunity to put the eagles level, but skipped the target only with Sandhu to beat in the box after passing Alan Costa and Sarthak Golui.
In the 83rd minute, there was a chance for Leon Agustinus with goalkeeper Eagles leaving his position, but the midfielder failed to keep the ball right on target.
BFC made the last change because Denmark Farooq made his debut, replacing Sunil Chhetri just before extra time.
Bengaluru, who made it past the initial stage of two with a comprehensive 5-0 victory against Tribhuvan Army FC, landed in the Maldives earlier this week before starting preparations for clashes.