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Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup action resumed for Indian sides Bengaluru FC and Aizawl FC as they squared off in a Group E tie at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, India.
The previous fixture between these two sides had seen the Bengaluru club come back from going 0-1 early in the match to complete a stellar turnaround to win 3-1 and claim all the three points. The teams came into the match in contrasting fortunes as Bengaluru had lost their match against New Radiant SC, who were the group leaders, away in the Maldives. Aizawl FC had scraped out a draw against Bangladeshi side Abahani Dhaka but occupied the last position in the group standings.
Bengaluru FC put on an attacking clinic as they beat Aizawl FC 5-0 at home and stayed in the hunt for the top spot in the group after New Radiant SC had won 5-1 against Abahani Dhaka in the other Group E match.
#1 Sunil Chhetri strikes from the spot to open the scoring
Bengaluru FC began the game on a strong note and controlled much of the possession on the pitch.
Aizawl FC were not allowed time to settle as BFC set out to catch them on the defensive. Daniel Segovia came close to scoring when he met Udanta Singh's cross from the right but failed to keep his shot down.
However, just a few minutes later, it was their talisman Sunil Chhetri in the thick of things as he won a penalty when he drew a foul from the Aizawl keeper Lalawmpuia.
He was brought down by the rushing keeper and the ref did not hesitate to point to the spot. Chhetri scored the penalty with ease sending Lalwmpuia the wrong way after a steady run-up to put the Bengaluru FC side in the driving seat in the match.
#2 Daniel Segovia doubles the lead for the home side with a calm finish
Within a minute of Chhetri's opening goal from the spot, Bengaluru FC added another to double their advantage on the night.
Segovia, the Spanish striker who had missed a great chance to open the scoring from inside the box got his name on the scoresheet when he finished off a great move from the midfield.
Erik Paartalu received the ball outside the box and played in Segovia with a well-judged reverse ball beating two Aizawl FC defenders.
Segovia did the task of making the run and then adjusted his body well to finish it with a side-stepping shot to beat Lalawmpuia at the far post.
Bengaluru FC had scored two goals in the space of two minutes and looked on course for a big win at their "fortress".
#3 Udanta Singh put Bengaluru FC in a comfortable position in the match
Bengaluru FC continued their domination on the pitch as they moved the ball around with almost no resistance from the young Aizawl FC side.
At the half-hour mark, Paartalu played a long ball finding the run of Chhetri on the left flank.
The Bengaluru FC and Indian skipper did well to control the ball after sprinting on the wing, made his way inside the box and squared it unselfishly for the rushing Udanta Singh to calmly slot the ball into the empty net after Lalawmpuia had rushed off his line to take on Chhetri.
Bengaluru FC had taken a comfortable 3-0 lead courtesy this goal and had stamped their authority on the game with ease.
#4 Segovia gets his second of the night with a header
The second half began with Aizawl FC showing some promise with a couple of long-range efforts on the goal but nothing significantly dangerous for Ralte to deal with in the Bengaluru goal.
Slowly and steadily, Bengaluru managed to regain the control in the match and took charge of proceedings on the pitch.
They moved the ball around freely and bullied Aizawl FC's youngsters with their clinical approach. They were rewarded again just a couple of minutes after the hour-mark when Spaniard Segovia got his second goal of the match.
Segovia nodded in the ball into the goal after a great cross into the box by fellow countryman Victor Perez from the flanks.
#5 Daniel Lahlimpuia makes it five after coming off the bench
Bengaluru FC were in cruise control of the game and looked all set to close out the game with a 4-0 scoreline as Aizawl FC had no answer to their attacking ventures.
Daniel Lahlimpuia had other plans in store, however. He was put on by Albert Roca in the 76th minute when he replaced Boithang Haokip.
Lahlimpuia got his name on the scoreboard when he got on the end of a Chhetri cross and finished off an easy chance.
Chhetri had done all the hard work making the run into the box and squaring the ball for the striker who did no mistake in slotting the ball into the empty net for the fifth goal of the match adding further to Aizawl FC and Santosh Kashyap's misery.
