AFP Cup: Day of reckoning for Bengaluru FC

Doha: Bengaluru FC will look to add the brightest feather so far to their already vibrant cap when they take on Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Air Force Club), in the AFC Cup final at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium here on Saturday. Having already created history by becoming the first Indian club to reach the final of Asia’s second biggest continental competition, the promised land beckons the JSW-side at the other end of the final whistle.

Moving past one threshold in the semis, BFC’s underdog status going into the title tilt could just give them the freedom to express themselves and turn the tables. The fact that they have reached this stage in only their third year of existence and their second time of asking in this competition, embellishes their achievement. And a step further would be a big one for the club, and to borrow Neil Armstrong’s phrase, a giant leap for Indian football.

Interestingly, Air Force Club also have a lot riding on the match as they chase the target of becoming the first Iraqi team to win the AFC Cup after Arbil twice failed at the final hurdle in 2012 and 2014. With a record of eight wins, two draws and one loss, the Baghdad side have a better record than BFC, which has six wins, two draws and three losses, coming into the final.
More steel for Blues.

But the change in manager, Albert Roca replacing Ashley Westwood, has seen the I-League champs adopt a new system and add more steel to their performance. An unbeaten record in the last four game for a 4-2 aggregate win over defending champions and hitherto unbeaten Johor Darul Ta’zim in the semifinals tells the tale. Woven around the central core of John Johnson and Juan Gonzalez in defence and Cameron Watson and Alvaro Rubio in midfield, Bengaluru will bank on the foursome to deliver when it matters most.

Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Alwyn George, who made it to Doha only on the eve of the match after a minor visa trouble, will be expected to add to the creative hub to feed the club’s top scorer and talisman Sunil Chhetri and CK Vineeth up front. The major change for the Men in Blue will be at the goal, where Lalthuammawia Ralte, who hasn’t played in the competition since March, will step in for the suspended Amrinder Singh. While undoubtedly a forced change, Ralte’s ability and comfort to pass the ball from the back might just help the Indian club who have taken to dominating possession with aplomb under their new manager.