Bengaluru FC started their season with a bright note with a 1-0 against Maldives’ Club Eagles in the AFC Cup playoff, thus qualifying for the main tournament.
Defensive Midfielder, Jayesh Rane scored the only goal of the game in the 26th minute. It was a low driven shot which led to the Mentality leading against the team from the Maldives.
Before that, the Eagles looked very threatening from the wings but the goal cut their game short, as both sides did not look sharp for the first 45 minutes.
Bengaluru dominated possession after the goal and controlled the game more effectively. The home team did get a chance to equalise as a defender, Sarthak Golui nearly put the ball in his own team’s net from an Eagles corner but the goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saved it and ensured Bengaluru remained ahead.
BFC continued to dominate the proceedings during the second half, even though it remained goalless. The home team was struggling to equalise.
There were a few chances, though, as Eagles player Ali Fair did get a chance to equalise in the 65th minute, but missed a golden chance as only the goalkeeper, Sandhu was in front of him and the player had passed defenders Golui and Alan Costa.
BFC, also, had a chance in the 83rd minute, when the goalkeeper of the Eagles left the spot and it was left for Leon Augustine to shoot but it wasn’t on target.
Bengaluru FC, under manager Marco Pezzaiuoli, will be placed in Group D, where they will play Maldivian club Maziya S&RC, Bangladesh’s Basundhara Kings and fellow ISL giants, ATK Mohun Bagan. They will face Mohun Bagan on Wednesday.
They defeated Tribhuvan Army FC in the Preliminary Stage Two 5-0 to qualify for the playoffs and reached the Maldives to play the Eagles.
