Chhetri sends Bengaluru to second round

Apr 28, 2015 - 08:17:14 |
Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring from the spot today. (MS photo: Ismail Affan)

Male’, MALDIVES – Sunil Chhetri's two goals against Maziya was enough for Bengaluru FC to confirmed a place in the second round of AFC Cup after beating Maziya Sports and Recreation Club by 2-1 in the National Football Stadium, Male. Pablo took the lead in the second half but Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri’s double helped them to win the match.

Maziya missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock from a free header inside the box in the 9th minute. Pabloe’s header went wide from a well taken free kick from Samdhooh.

In the 30th minute Robin Singh’s shot inside the box hits the woodwork and they tried from the rebounded ball as well unfortunately it went wide.

Two minutes later Nashid supplied a good ball into the box after beating his marker and Maziya’s Umair couldn’t control it.

Keeper Imran was forced to block the stunning shot from Siam Hanghal and he tried to shot again from the rebounded ball, which was also blocked by the home side.

A minute later Robin Singh made another good shot on target and keeper Imran showed his class to save it again.

Six minutes after the break Asadhulla penetrated the defense line of Bengaluru FC and supplied a good ball to Pablo but his shot was blocked by keeper.

Three minutes later, Nashid missed another good chance to break the deadlock from a good shot inside the box, which went over the bar.

Pablo Rodriguez broke the deadlock in the 59th minute from a superb finish inside the box.

Four minutes later Ashley Westwood made double substitution to change the score line.

Sunil Chhetri levels the game from the spot in the 69th minute when referee awarded the visitors a penalty for a deliberate handball inside the box.

In the 77th minute Sunil Chhetri took the lead for the visitors from a superb volley inside the box.

Five minutes before the normal time Maziya was unlucky to level the game as Pablo’s header inside the box hits the woodwork again from a superb cross from Imaz.

Maziya’s last game in this group would be against Singapore Warriors.

Name

Comment

Send Now
Comments
bebe on Apr 29
Like 0
Dislike 0
Reply
When you have exceptionally good players like Chetri, who are so deadly in front of the goal, and Maziya forwards whose goal-bound shots are wayward and spurned the good chances when through on goal these are the results you will get. But I wonder what theory our professor cum coach Suzain will have to say over this result. All we see is he does too much talk. We still remember how he, till very recently, talked about not having enough supporters to watch team play. Now what happened? In the Dhivehi premier league tickets are given to clubs to sell their respective supporters. But are they doing enough to sell it? Or are they doing anything to make it happen? Even for AFC Cup matches they do nothing in the way of promotion and bring in supporters.
Niyaz on Apr 29
Like 2
Dislike 0
Reply
The concept of promotion and advertising appears to be completely alien to our football clubs. Even now, when all the DPL clubs are attempting to recruit youngsters to their newly established youth academies, they expect FAM to do all the work for them. And by "work" I mean pasting an A4-sized paper announcing the trial sessions at the Turf Ground. I think DPL clubs should take more initiative in these matters and focus on schools. For an example, I know that Victory helped to lay an astroturf pitch at Imaaduddheen school a few years back. They should focus on training students at schools and maybe invite the youngsters to their matches so that they build up a rapport and more importantly, a dedicated fan base for the future. Iceland, which has a similar population to Maldives, has been doing this since the year 2000 and look like they are on the verge of qualifying for their first ever tournament.
fan on Apr 29
Like 1
Dislike 0
Reply
Its sad reflection on our football that an indian team has beaten us in our home ground. It says a lot about how an aging star like Sunil Chetri at the age of 31 is still so good at what he does, how fit he is, how hardworking till the last second. Our players when they reach 30 you will know by looking at them. They are inmobile, tummy is protruding through shirt and they have a stamina lasting for first half an hour, remaining one hour if they are on the field, they are panting, gasping for breath. It is as if they imminently need an inhaler.
footballmad on Apr 29
Like 1
Dislike 0
Reply
The players and the coach did very well in this campaign, I feel. The club management and the supporters need to do more to help the team. It's now official, there is NO home advantage when Maldivian teams play at home. There are no supporters who will commit time for the clubs and the clubs' management hasn't offered the supporters much.

Headlines