AFC Cup: Bengaluru FC vs Bashundhara Kings match ends in a draw

AFC Cup: Bengaluru FC crash out of AFC Cup after goalless draw with Bashundhara Kings- Marco Pezzaiuoli’s Bengaluru FC side bowed out of the reckoning in the group stages of the 2021 AFC Cup, following a goalless draw against Bashundhara Kings, at the National Stadium in Male, on Saturday. The result meant the Blues stayed third in Group D with one point, while Bashundhara climbed to the top with four points, ahead of ATK Mohun Bagan’s late clash against Maziya S&RC.

Pezzaiuoli made three changes to the team that faced ATK Mohun Bagan, with Parag Shrivas, Danish Farooq and Bidyashagar Singh replacing Sarthak Golui, Ajay Chhetri and Udanta Singh. At the other end, Oscar Bruzon fielded an unchanged side from Bashundhara’s 2-0 win over Maziya S&RC.

The Blues started the game on the front foot, and the first good chance came with just five minutes on the clock when Danish’s lob picked out Bidyashagar’s run, and the youngster’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Bashundhara skipper Topu Barman. Jayesh Rane’s effort from the rebound rolled wide.

Bashundhara won a free-kick on the edge of the box in the 15th minute after Danish tripped Barman, but Suresh intercepted Robinho’s pass and made sure the set-piece came to nothing. Naorem Roshan Singh’s long diagonal in the 21st minute found Cleiton Silva, but the Brazilian’s attempted to give and go with Bidyashagar found the winger crowded out by the Bashundhara defence. From that move, the Bangladesh side went on a counter-attack that forced Musavu-King into a tackle that saw him pick up the game’s first yellow card.

Three minutes later, Cleiton’s ball into the box was met by a diving Yrondu Musavu-King, whose header was straight into Bashundhara ’keeper Anisur Rahman’s gloves. At the other end, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu did well to get his palms to Jonathan Reis’ effort from well outside the box, to push away Bashundhara’s hopes of a first half goal.

On the stroke of halftime, Pezzaiuoli made the first substitution of the game, bringing on Sarthak in place of Parag. The Blues then had the final chance before the break, when Tariq Raihan Kazi tugged Cleiton back to give away a freekick and pick up a yellow card. The Brazilian’s effort was blocked and Bidyashagar’s shot from the rebound sailed high and wide.

Bashundhara made a change of their own on the other side of the break as Mohammad Ibrahim replaced Mahbubur Rahman. The visitors came close to taking the lead in the 57th minute through Brazilian winger Robinho, whose effort deflected off Gurpreet’s foot and was sailing goalward until Roshan cleared with an acrobatic effort. The ball almost spun back in before Gurpreet pushed away with an outstretched arm.

Attacking with intent, the Blues came close on several occasions. Cleiton skipped past his marker in the 72nd minute and saw his low cross was blocked by Topu. Only minutes later, Alan Costa’s header from Cleiton’s corner deflected off the underside of the bar and bounced on the goal line, before ’keeper Anisur managed to collect.

The Blues had a flurry of late chances as they looked to break the deadlock, with Cleiton involved in the thick of things. The Brazilian’s deflected shot was pushed away by Anisur in the 82nd minute, and Chhetri was first to get the rebound. With the ’keeper off his line, Chhetri found Rane unmarked, but the midfielder’s effort was blocked by Topu. Minutes later, Leon tried to turn Kazi in the box but the defender stood his ground and did enough to block the winger’s attempted shot.

Pezzaiuoli’s final throw of the dice saw B-Team graduate Sivasakthi Narayanan make his debut, replacing Suresh, but it wasn’t enough as both sides took a point each in their penultimate group stage game.

The Blues will be back in action on August 24, at the same venue, when they take on Maziya S&RC in their final Group D game.

Bengaluru FC vs Bashundhara Kings Live updates

6:21 PM: FULL TIME!!! Bengaluru FC and Bashundhara Kings play out a draw at the National Football Stadium in Male

6:19 PM: 93 mins’ Jayesh Rane with the Free kick from Bengalurus’ box. Long pass as the Blues aim to score in the last 2 minutes of the match. Suresh goes off and is replaced by Siva.

6:17 PM: 91 mins- 4 minutes of extra time has been given before the final whistle

6:15 PM: 89 mins- BFC putting the Bashundhara Kings under pressie. last few minutes left

6:10 PM: 85 mins’- Anisur Rahman is keeping Bashundhara Kings in the game with Bengaluru FC continuing their relentless attack. Great intent by the Blues in the last 10 minutes of the match

6:05 PM: 80 mins’- Bengaluru FC rushes men forward starting with the attackers and Sunil Chhetri. BFC has been constant with their pressing as they look to get the winner.

6:00 PM: 75 mins’- Bashundhara Kings goalkeeper Anisur Rahman makes an important save. Bengaluru FC players were positive of the ball had gone over the line. However, it just bounced on the line. The Blues will be believing in their chances of bagging the three points

5:56 PM: 70 mins – Questionable offside decision against Bengaluru FC. The ISL outfit is more involved in the game now

5:54 PM: 68 mins’ – Bengaluru skipper Sunil Chhetri gets a corner for his team. Cleiton kicks it directly into the ‘keeper. Wasted chance

5:51 PM: 65 mins’- Suresh make a poor challenge and ends up conceding a free-kick to Bashundhara Kings

5:49 PM: 63 mins’- No goal with an hour gone in the match. Bengaluru FC and Bashundhara Kings still searching for the breakthrough goal

5:48 PM: 61 mins’ Double change for the ISL outfit as Pratik Chaudhari and Ajith Kumar come in for Roshan and Musavu-King.

5:46 PM: 58 mins’- Bashundhara Kings have continued to attack their opponent’s goal. Players on the bench are off to warm up with both teams expected to make more changes now

5:41 PM: 55 mins’- Bengaluru FC has somehow managed to keep it 0-0. Bashundhara Kings were soo close to scoring as Roshan and Gurpreet stop the ball from going into the back of the net

5:37 PM: 51 mins’- King makes an important block for Bengaluru FC. Bashundhara have neeb very lively in the second half edging closer to scoring

5:34 PM: 49 mins’- Bashundhara Kings look comfortable in their own half with Bengaluru FC looking to press them out and retain the ball

5:31 PM: START OF THE SECOND HALF! Bashundhara Kings make a change as Ibrahim (19) comes in for Rahman(17)

5:18 PM- HALF TIME! Bashundhara Kings and Bengaluru FC walk off the pitch with the score tied at 0-0.

5:16 PM– 45 mins’ 1 added minute. Kazi gets a yellow card for a silly foul. Bengaluru FC misses the chance to go ahead.

5:14 PM– 43 mins’- Bashundhara Kings miss the final touch after passing the ball into Bengaluru’s box. Get yet another free kick on their left flank

5:09 PM– 38 mins’- Bengaluru FC rush into the opponent’s half as Sunil Chhetri looks to cross the ball into the box. Corner for the Blues

5:02 PM– 31 mins’- Bashundhara Kings keep hold of the ball as their defense looks to play long

5:00 PM– 29 mins’- Robinho runs down the Bengaluru’s left flank by Roshan is up to the task. Great defending by the left-back

4:58 PM– 27 mins’- Delay in resumption as Bashundhara Kings fails to get back up after a nasty challenge

4:55 PM– 24 mins’- Halfway through the first half, both teams are tied at 0-0. End to End action with both teams looking to find the back of the net

4:52 PM– 20 mins’- Robinho has been testing the Bengaluru defense which leads to Bashundhara Kings getting a foul just outside Bengalurus’ box

4:45 PM– 15 mins’- Bashundhara Kings trying to keep possession looking for chances in Bengaluru’s half

4:40 PM– 10 mins’- Bengaluru FC gets a free kick in a dangerous area, Fail to capitalize on the opportunity as the ball goes out of play

4:35 PM– 5 min’- Robinho gets the first shot on target while Gurpeert comfortable latches onto it

4:30 PM– 1 min’- KICKOFF!!! Bengaluru FC gets the ball rolling in Male

4:25 PM- Both teams have walked onto the pitch as we await kickoff

4:00 PM- Lines-ups are out

📋 LINE-UPS | 🇮🇳 @bengalurufc 🆚 @bkings_official 🇧🇩

👀 The Starting XIs set to take the pitch for the first ever AFC Cup meeting between these sides!

🧐 Which team walks away with the W?#AFCCup2021 | #BFCvBDK pic.twitter.com/kuYvTJdpkk

— #AFCCup2021 (@AFCCup) August 21, 2021