Abahani strike late to down Bengaluru

Dhaka, May 3: Failure to put simple chances away came back to bite Bengaluru FC, who were handed a 2-0 defeat to Abahani Limited Dhaka in a Group E game of the AFC Cup at the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka, on Wednesday.

Albert Roca’s men now have their task cut out if they are to make the knockout stages of the competition. Roca, having rested key players on the weekend, handed starts to Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Sunil Chhetri, C.K. Vineeth, Cameron Watson and John Johnson.

Bengaluru’s best chance of the half came when Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s corner met the head of skipper Sunil Chhetri but the effort was an easy picking for the Abahani custodian.

Half-time substitute Alwyn was guilty of not putting away an easy chance in the 72nd minute. Chhetri kept the ball in play down the left and served the perfect cut-back from the tightest of angles only to see Alwyn blaze his shot over.

Soon, Abahani were a man down after Mohammad Nasir deliberately hand-balled earning him his second booking.

But it was Abahani who landed the killer blow in the 87th minute when Saad Uddin tapped home a cross on the volley. The Blues then conceded a second in additional time when goalkeeper Amrinder Singh was robbed off the ball high up the pitch by Rubel Miya who chipped into an empty goal from distance. Bagan close to elimination Male: After narrowly missing out on the I-League title, Mohun Bagan now find themselves on the verge of elimination in the following a shock 2-5 defeat against Maziya Sports and Recreation Club of Maldives.

The crowd at Male’s National Stadium were treated to a spectacle in the Group E match as Maziya opened up early lead through goals from Yasfaadh Habeeb (13th minute) and Mohamed Umair (27th minute).

When Alexsander Rakic (45th) added a third from a narrow-angle just before the half-time, the game appeared over as a contest.

Straight after the restart, Bagan, who needed a win to stay afloat, pulled a goal back through Kingshuk Debnath (48th minute).

However, they quickly fell further behind as Abdulla Asadhulla struck from the penalty spot before Rakic (60th) added a second. Jeje Lalpekhlua added a consolation from the spot in the 78th minute.