Bengaluru FC created history by being the first Indian club to appear in the AFC Cup Final, but they could not go a step further as they suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Iraqi Air Force Club. The Iraqi side also create history by becoming the first Iraqi side to ever lift the AFC Cup.
The first half was a tensely fought affair, with BFC keeping their Iraqi opponents at bay. However, a switch to a 3-5-2 formation in the second half allowed Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya more opportunities in front of goal, and their talisman, Hammadi Ahmed capitalised in the 69th minute, tapping in after good work from Amjed Radhi in the box.
Bengaluru FC grew desperate and threw the kitchen sink in the final few moments, but it was not be. Yet, there was plenty of congratulations in store for the Blues as they did India proud.
Here’s how Twitter reacted :
Last time we saw this banner, @bengalurufc clinched the @ILeagueOfficial title. What do we have in store today. #AFCCupFinal #AFCvBFC pic.twitter.com/x6ijCDVkK9
— Naveen Peter (@peterspeaking) November 5, 2016
A 19 year old starts in the final of the @AFCCup for Namma @bengalurufc. Says it all. Come on BFC! @fni @indianfootynet
— Vijay.R.B (@TheBaronVj) November 5, 2016
Far too many empty seats in Doha. if only this match was in India! #AFCCupFinal @HTSportsNews
— Dhiman Sarkar (@DhimanHT) November 5, 2016
This country will host a bloody World Cup in 8 years. Ridiculous. https://t.co/UTLNsSrnOf
— Abhishek P (@shakeyiyer) November 5, 2016
For a final the game lacks any atmosphere If this the kind of atmosphere qatar fans can create I dont have high hopes for 2022 #AFCCupFinal
— Arul (@arulprakash) November 5, 2016
Common @bengalurufc cheering for you guys....my neighbors may have a tough time today. #AFCCupFinalGo for the glory...make us proud.
— Chandra Shekhar Jha (@saltyriver) November 5, 2016
Why is Joe Allen playing for Air Force Club? #AIRvBFC #AFCCupFinal
— Ankur Pramod (@AnkurPramod) November 5, 2016
Streaming the #AFCCupFinal ... Oh the agony!
— Bratish Poddar (@BratishPoddar) November 5, 2016
Prayer from a #MohunBagan fan for @bengalurufc win! This is for #India.... #BFC #AIRvBFC #AFCCupFinal #AFCCup2016
— Najmus Sayadat (@nsrony) November 5, 2016
@bengalurufc anyone noticing the wonderful band in the background or is it just me? #TheDohaDream #ForTheWin
— Rohan Tauro (@taurorohan) November 5, 2016
The amount of people supporting @bengalurufc is equivalent to the population of iraq. #BackTheBlue #AFCCupFinal @ten_sports
— venu rathore (@Foookatian) November 5, 2016
Iraqi Joe Allen is off. #AFCCupFinal
— A Snails life (@thesdg) November 5, 2016
@mihirsv He either dies or kills today..
— Naveen Peter (@peterspeaking) November 5, 2016
WOAH! Marouane Fellaini on the bench for Air Force Club? #AIRvBFC #AFCCupFinal
— Ankur Pramod (@AnkurPramod) November 5, 2016
Osama ali has come on for Air Force, let's see how he can terrorize the opponent. C'MON BENGALURU! #Nopunintended #AFCCupFinal @bengalurufc
— leftanant Kernel (@sriram_95) November 5, 2016
@mihirsv @WestBlockBlues chanted "Uncle Sam is watching you" at the semis. He truly is, now. #AFCCupFinal
— Varun Shetty (@varunshetty) November 5, 2016
. @bengalurufc are playing a better game of football tonight than all those @ManUtd have played under Mourinho. Proud. #AFCCupFinal
— Pranav Mukul (@pranavmukul) November 5, 2016
Bengaluru FC the fitter side here. When was the last time you said that for an indian side against west Asians. #AFCCupFinal
— Rudra Nayan Das (@Rudra_nayan) November 5, 2016
@Cristiano would've gulped down @rinoanto's crosses tonight. Accurate and in the soft spot. @Bengalurufc need a box presence #AFCCUpFinal
— Nikhil Jitendran (@_VanJitendran) November 5, 2016
Leaving everything aside,it is pretty refreshing to see a side from India outmuscling the opponents and looking imperious #BFC #AFCCupFinal
— Kaustav Bera (@hopelessk) November 5, 2016
That day has arrived when cricket needs to be advertised during a football game! #indianfootball #thedohadream #arivsbfc @fni @AFCCup
— Dhanya (@sreedhanya) November 5, 2016
"What would your team talk have been at HT?"Ashley Westwood: "I'd have grabbed a few necks and shook them up before going back out there!"
— Rohith Nair (@RohithNair) November 5, 2016
Can't believe What Sunil did! Nervous? #AFCCupFinal
— Rudra Nayan Das (@Rudra_nayan) November 5, 2016
Sorry, Iraq. We support you in Mosul. But not in Doha #AFCCupFinal
— Ajay Sahoo (@ajay_ajaysahoo) November 5, 2016
This is not Arabian Night this is @bengalurufc night #AFCCupFinal #TheDohaDream #AIRvBFC
— supriyo (@supriyorokx) November 5, 2016
#AFCCupFinal it happens, now just do what Liverpool did in Istanbul and united did in Barcelona
— paapi banda (@Manutdbarca2) November 5, 2016
Kitchee scored first, beaten 3-2. JDT scored first, beaten 3-1. Beauty of @bengalurufc lies in its never-say-die spirit. #AFCCupFinal
— Akarsh Sharma (@Akarsh_Official) November 5, 2016
No worries . @bengalurufc is a winner . 3 years old club playing in #AFCCupFinal that's itself a champion strait
— TheRebel (@sayan_dusk) November 5, 2016
This is chaos. 3-5-2 clearly not working. #AFCCupFinal
— Kuhelika Guha (@kuhelika_guha) November 5, 2016
Whatever happens, @bengalurufc are champions for being the first Indian team to make it to the #AFCCupFinal . Just a 3yr old club!
— Muflis (@xtahzy) November 5, 2016
The change in formation has backfired for @bengalurufc . But well played Blues. Great Achievement. #AFCCupFinal
— Vasant Subramanian (@VasantS10) November 5, 2016
That was Vineeth's moment right there, to cement his name in the history books. #AFCCupFinal
— Chelston D'souza (@chelston_dsouza) November 5, 2016
Iraq may be the air force club, but, by George, the air belongs to Johnson! #bfc #AFCCupFinal
— Vijay Ramachandran (@vijay750) November 5, 2016
And a defeat with a millions of heartbreak :( #AFCCupFinal
— kashif sheikh (@Pens_Mouth) November 5, 2016
Congratulations Air Force Club, Iraq for lifting the #AFCCup2016 it is for the first time a Iraqi side has won the #AFCCup2016Final #BFCvAFC
— Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) November 5, 2016
Bengaluru FC have not lost the final. They have won a billion hearts. PROUD. #AFCCupFinal
— Indian Football News (@indianfootynet) November 5, 2016
This was a fight of equals. With their game @bengalurufc have proven we belong there. Indian football belongs at the top. #AFCCupFinal
— Indian Football News (@indianfootynet) November 5, 2016
Some failures are like fuel to fight further. You made us proud. Your next mission is on. Well played. @ckvineeth @rinoanto #AFCCupFinal
— Manu (@ManuVarghese_) November 5, 2016
You played your heart out, @bengalurufc!Not the result we wanted but you have made India PROUD!!#AIRvBFC #AFCCupFinal https://t.co/SW0W68y2h6
— Tottenham Hotspur (@Spurs_India) November 5, 2016
Well played @bengalurufc. Proud of u!We lost the cup. still happy for people of Iraq. this means a lot for u. Congratulations! #AFCCupFinal
— Bhargab (@bhargabsarma) November 5, 2016
Biggest out come for the country of more than 1.2 billion people today was that @bengalurufc reached the #AFCCupFinal.#AIRvBFC
— FoMA Ramteke (@fomaramteke) November 5, 2016
Unlucky @bengalurufc you have still taken Indian football further than its ever been before! #AFCCup2016
— Joe Morrison (@joefooty) November 5, 2016
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