BFC GET ~64L, DRAW N KOREA SIDE IN AFC CUP

KOLKATA: Bengaluru FC will play North Korea’s 4.25SC (April 25 Sports Club) in the AFC Cup inter-zone semi-finals this year.

At the draw ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Bengaluru FC were also awarded $100,000 (~64.48 lakh approximately) for winning the south zone group of the competition being played under a different format this year.

That group also included Mohun Bagan.

Bengaluru FC, who won the Federation Cup last month sealing a shot at the 2018 AFC Cup, Asia’s second-tier international club competition, will host the North Korean team on August 23.

The return-leg will be played at the 1,14,000 capacity May Day Stadium in Pyongyang on September 13. According to a media release issued by the club on Tuesday, 4.25 qualified to the zonal playoffs after winning the east zone group, which also had Kigwancha SC and Mongolian side Erchim SC.

The 67-year-old club, run by the North Korean Army and appearing on the continental stage for the first time in 25 years, scored 14 goals in four matches in the three-team group, winning two and drawing two.

Bengaluru FC scored seven in six matches in a four-team group. Pakistan have a big challenge at hand as they take on South Africa in a must-win match. Pakistan will have to turn things around fast after their forgettable performance against India.

More than the margin of loss, the abject surrender must be hurting.

But I’d like to stay positive and say Pakistan have a great chance to turn things around against the number-one ranked ODI team.

South Africa, in their opener against Sri Lanka, looked extremely formidable. Hashim Amla is in great form. South