Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangalore: JSW Bengaluru FC confirmed their place in the knockout stage of the 2016 AFC Cup on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over Lao Toyota that ensured the Indian side seal second place in Group H.
Goals from Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Kim Song-yong secured all three points for Bengaluru, who move on to nine points from five games, although a header Kazuo Homma midway through the second half kept the Laotian club’s hopes alive until a minute from the end, when Saynakkhonevieng Phommapanya was sent off.
The win means Bengaluru open up a six point gap over third placed Ayeyawady United from Myanmar while defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim top the group with a maximum 15 points.
"I think you have to be satisfied,” said Bengaluru Performance Analyst Matthew Holland. “You're in the AFC Cup and it was a game that you wanted to win and we needed to win to progress and to get a few more points on the board.
“There were some really good performances. It was a great goal from Eugeneson Lyngdoh, a great cross from Michael Collins and obviously Sunil Chhetri stepping up and providing the ball for Kim, which is also good for a centre forward to get goals."
Neither side impressed in a sedate opening quarter of the game but, as the half drew to a close, it was the home side who were clearly in the ascendancy. While Homma should have done better than pull his shot from inside the area wide of the target, it was Bengaluru who fashioned the best chances of the half at the other end.
Lao Toyota goalkeeper Vathana Keodouangdeth was forced to palm Udanta Singh’s effort to safety in the 31st minute before the home side cranked up the pressure further, with Sunil Chhetri (pictured) and Singh both curling efforts just wide of the right post minutes later.
Kim Song-yong sent his shot over the bar three minutes before the break while Chhetri’s attempt found the side netting soon after, but with the game in first-half stoppage time Bengaluru took a deserved lead when Eugeneson Lyngdoh, unmarked 12 yards from goal, steered Michael Collins’ cross home with a well-executed header.
The host side continued to push forward with Chhetri being denied in the 52nd minute when Vathana somehow used his legs to keep the forward’s shot out while at the other end Homma kept Bengaluru on their toes with two efforts – an overhead kick and a shot from the edge of the area – that signalled the Laotian side were far from a spent force.
With an hour on the clock, Bengaluru doubled their advantage when Kim tapped in from close range after Chhetri’s layoff but, just seven minutes later, Lao Toyota were back in the game when Homma netted with a fine header.
But, needing to repeat their win over Bengaluru from Matchday One to have any hope of remaining in the competition, Lao Toyota were unable to find a way past Amrinder Singh for a second time and Saynakkhonevieng’s sending off for a foul on substitute Chekiyot Kizhakkeveettil Vineeth in the final minute killed off any late hopes of a fight back.
"I think we can accept the defeat although we had chances to score,” said Lao Toyota coach Valakone Phomphakdy. “But Bengaluru played well today.
"Bengaluru played at home and they had good support from the fans. They fought well and created many chances. They have a lot of different kinds of attack - sometimes fast, sometimes slow - and they can also score."
Photo: Lagardère Sports