Bengaluru FC take on Al Quwa Al-Jawiya in the final of the AFC Cup 2016, with many calling it the ‘biggest game’ in the club history of Indian football. The Blues are only 3 years old, but for such a young club, they already have a good Asian pedigree, riding on a strong Indian backbone of Sunil Chhetri, Eugenson Lyngdoh and CK Vineeth to go far in the competition.
While Bengaluru have blazed a trail in their quest for glory, there have been Indian clubs who have succeeded in the AFC Cup before, having gone deep into the knockout stages of the competition.
Here are the 5 best performances by Indian clubs in the AFC Cup.
#5 East Bengal (2004) – Quarterfinals
The inaugural edition of the 2004 AFC Cup had two clubs from Indian, with East Bengal gaining their spot as the champions of the 2002/03 National Football League, while Mahindra United also qualified as runners-up. East Bengal were fresh from winning the 2003 ASEAN Club Championship and were no mugs in Asian competition going into the AFC Cup.
The West Bengal side stormed through the group stages against Singaporean, Malaysian and Maldivian opposition of Geylang United, Negeri Sembilan and Island FC. With a formidable frontline of Cristiano Junior (5), Mike Okoro (4) and Bhaichung Bhutia (2) scoring 11 goals amongst themselves, East Bengal topped Group E with 13 points.
The format of the AFC Cup meant that 8 of the 18 clubs in the group stages immediately went into the quarterfinals, where East Bengal were drawn with Syrian champions Al Jaish. After a tense first leg in the Salt Lake stadium finished 0-0, the Red and Gold Brigade faltered in Damascus, going down 3-0 to the eventual champions of the competition.
#4 Mahindra United (2007) – Quarterfinals
The Jeepmen were fresh of dominating the 2005/06 edition of the National Football League, where they produced some stunning football to thus earn their place in the 2007 AFC Cup. Given that Mahindra United had never managed to get past the group stages in two previous attempts (2004 and 2006), there wasn’t much pressure placed on the Mumbai based club to succeed.
However, MU were drawn with Singapore Armed Forces FC, Happy Valley of Hong Kong and Maldivian side New Radiant in Group E. With Steven Dias pulling the strings from midfield, Mahindra United’s frontline of Ghanaian stars Yusif Yakubu and Andrews Pomeyie Mensah thrived, scoring 6 of MU’s 9 goals as the Jeepmen finished as runners-up, garnering 12 points with 4 wins and 2 losses.
Ironically enough, MU knocked out Mohun Bagan by virtue of having more points as a runner-up, thus earning their spot in the quarterfinals against Al Nejmeh. In the home leg in Goa (MU’s Cooperage ground was too small for AFC competitions), the Jeepmen tragically conceded late to lose 1-2, which made their trip to Beirut all the more daunting.
Yet, Mahindra United showed their mettle, as goals from Minga, Harpreet and Pomeyie gave them a 3-2 lead going into the final moments, which would be enough going by the away goals rule. Yet, tragedy struck, as the Indian side conceded a penalty in the 4th minute of injury time, which was duly converted by Milan Bogunovic to send Al Nejmeh through 5-4 on aggregate.
#3 Dempo (2008) – Semifinals
The rise of Dempo in the mid-2000’s was truly a fairytale of Indian football, as at the turn of the millennium, the club’s owners were seriously considering disbanding the team. Yet, they persevered and were rewarded when Dempo won the 2006/07 edition of the National Football League to qualify for the 2008 AFC Cup.
Dempo had failed to make it past the group stages in 2005 and 2006, and being drawn against West Asian clubs Al-Muharraq, Al-Ansar and Sur in Group A, little was expected as Indian clubs historically struggled against their West Asian counterparts. With Ranti Martins leading the line and being ably supplied by Climax Lawrence from midfield, Dempo turned in some creditable home and away performances to finish as runners-up in their group – 10 points, with 3 wins, a draw and 2 losses.
Dempo were drawn with Singaporean side Home United in the quarterfinals, and after a 1-1 draw in the home leg, Dempo played out a thrilling 4-3 away win in Singapore to book their place in the semifinals against Lebanese side, Safa. Dempo fell to a narrow 1-0 loss in Beirut, and two quickfire goals early in the second leg meant that the eventual aggregate scoreline of 5-1 was not a surprise.
Overall it was a great campaign for the Goan club as their coach Armando Colaco said “This (AFC semifinal) is the most important achievement for all of us. We targeted quarterfinal and feel great to have moved one step ahead. This was possible just because of the hard work and collective brilliance of the entire team.”
#2 East Bengal (2013) – Semifinals
After a streak of 3 clubs making at least the quarterfinals in 5 years, India’s performances in the AFC Cup diminished, as the format changed to include a larger pool of teams and thus a Round-of-16 fixture as well. It makes East Bengal’s 2013 run all the more creditable, as the Lal holud went where no Indian club had gone before until then.
East Bengal comfortably topped Group H of East Asian opposition, as Selangor, Sài Gòn Xuân Thành and Tampines Rovers were unable to beat the Red and Gold Brigade as they racked up 13 goals in 6 games, which included 4 wins and two draws, thus ensuring their place in the knockout stages. Yangon United suffered at the hands of East Bengal in the Round-of-16, going down 5-1 in the single leg tie.
The Kolkata giants then faced Indonesian side Semen Padang in the quarterfinals, where Japanese midfielder Ryuji Sueoka gave them a precious 1-0 lead going into the away leg. A howler from current Indian custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu gifted Semen Padang a way back, but James Moga scored late to ensure East Bengal went through 1-2 on aggregate.
Facing defending champions Kuwait SC in the semifinals, East Bengal were in no doubt of the size of the task ahead of them, especially with Ryuji Sueoka out injured. They came away with a respectable 4-2 loss in the first leg in Kuwait, only to collapse in front of their home support, as a 3-0 loss in the second leg meant that East Bengal went out 7-2 to the eventual champions.
#1 Bengaluru FC (2016) – Finals*
Here we are. Bengaluru FC stand on the precipice of making history as the only Indian club to have ever won the AFC Cup, but can already take credit for going where no Indian club has gone before. The Blues’ only previous appearance in the AFC Cup in 2016 ended with them going out at the Round of 16 stage to Hong Kong-based club, South China.
BFC qualified for the AFC Cup as Federation Cup champions in 2014/15, and were drawn in a tough group featuring Johor Darul Ta'zim, Ayeyawady United and Lao Toyota FC, with the Blues squeaking through with 3 wins and 3 losses to finish as runners-up with 9 points. Sunil Chhetri then inspired BFC to a 3-2 win away to Kitchee to ensure the Blues made the quarterfinals.
A CK Vineeth goal in the 7th minute of the first leg was all it took for BFC to win their quarterfinal, as superb defending against Tampines Rovers ensured that BFC would face their nemesis from the group stages, Johor DT in the semifinals. The defending champions of the AFC Cup took the lead at home in the first leg, only for an Eugeneson Lyngdoh scorcher to give BFC a precious away goal and earn the draw.
The Blues showed their mettle after going a goal down in the second leg in Bengaluru, with Sunil Chhetri netting a brace, including a wondergoal to give BFC the lead, with Juanan confirming the 3-1 win late on, thus creating history as Bengaluru confirmed their place in the finals against Iraqi side Al Quwa Al-Jawiya.
