Bengaluru went into the tie 1-0 ahead after last week’s first leg in Thimpu but fired on all cylinders on Wednesday as the Indian Super League champions raced to a 4-1 lead at half time at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium before registering their highest ever competitive win.

Bengaluru will play Maziya Sports & Recreation Club in the Play-off next week, with the Maldives club advancing on away goals after their two-leg Preliminary Round 2 tie with Abahani Limited Dhaka of Bangladesh ended 2-2 on aggregate.

Having held Abahani to a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Dhaka last week, Maziya fancied their chances of advancing and Mario Lemos' side played the perfect game to set up a meeting next week with either India's JSW Bengaluru FC or Paro FC of Bhutan.

Goals to Jordan Webb and Boris Kopitovic had the hosts cruising at 2-0 up with just under half an hour remaining, but PSM Makassar captain Ferdinand Sinaga’s volley ensured a tense finish.

The visitors fought hard for an equaliser, but the late sending off of Serif Hasic ended their challenge, as the 2019 Singapore Cup winners claimed all three points.

The win puts Tampines Rovers second on the group table, behind Kaya FC-Iloilo, who beat Shan United 2-0 earlier on Wednesday.

Jovan Bedic’s successful penalty kick broke the deadlock after 74 minutes, before Eric Giganto sealed the win with five minutes remaining as the visitors began their campaign in style.

The AFC Cup defending champions found themselves behind after only 15 minutes as Fayeq Mahamid gave the visitors the lead but Tarek El Ali and Ahmed Zreik scored in the second half to give Al Ahed their first win of the year.

Goran Jerkovic gave Lao the lead on 15 minutes but his effort was cancelled out in the 39th minute by Hougang’s Charlie Machell before Plazibat scored twice in the second half to ensure victory.

Ceres, who lost out to FC Tokyo in the final round of qualifying for this year’s AFC Champions League, dominated throughout on a night when star striker Bienvenido Marañon scored twice to propel his side to top spot in the Group G standings.