AFC Cup 2018: Abahani Dhaka vs Bengaluru FC, Live Match Updates

FULL TIME! and BENGALURU FC ARE THROUGH!
News emerging from Guwahati that Aizawl FC have defeated New Radiant SC 2-1 which sees Bengaluru FC emerge Group Champions and advance to the next round!

What a pulsating end! Aizawl have done it against all odds. Bengaluru FC must thank their stars for the result in Guwahati. Unbelievable!
FT : Dhaka Abahani 0-4 Bengaluru FC

It's been a pleasure bringing this game to you. That's it from Sportskeeda for tonight. This is Sayak, signing off!

2 Minutes added on here in Dhaka.

88' MISS! Segovia is clear on goal with just the goalkeeper to beat, makes a hash of things and squanders an easy chance away. All Eyes on Aizawl now.

85' Substitution, Bengaluru. Lenny Rodrigues replaces Harmanjot Khabra.

UPDATE : Meanwhile in Guwahati, Aizawl leading 2-1 against New Radiant SC.

79' Substitution for Bengaluru FC : Malswamzuala replaces Victor Perez.

76' Corner headed away by Faisal.

75' Shouts for a Penalty from the Bengaluru FC players after the ball wheezes past the hands of a Abahani player. However, the referee points to a corner for BFC.

71' Abahani get another ball in from the right, but the Blue Shirts in the box fall short of height to head it in. Bengaluru FC recover.

70' Paartulu penalised for a rough challenge.

69' Bengaluru FC have now entered the defensive mode as they are now sitting back and letting Abahani get the ball towards them. The game is almost over. All eyes on the Aizawl game elsewhere.

BIG NEWS COMING FROM GUWAHATI!
Aizawl have taken the lead from the spot through Dodoz to make it 1-0.

Follow the other game here : Sportskeeda LIVE Commentary : Aizawl FC vs New Radiant SC

60' and it's 4-0 here! Alam makes a mess of a simple cross and the balls ends up with Chhetri who places the ball into an empty net.

58' GOAAAAAAAAAL! Chhetri with a lobbed ball over everyone finds Nishu Kumar who sets himself up with a beautiful first touch and finishes it.

53' Udanta with a poor cross from the right after a good build-up play by Bengaluru FC.

52' MISS! Chhetri dispossesses Abahani and launches a counter, sets up Udanta Singh at the far side who fails to find the target, Could have been 3-0 here for the Blues!

51' Dhaka Abahani constantly getting crosses delivered from the right, but are unable to hit the target after eventually being outnumbered in the Bengaluru box.

47' Segovia sets up Udanta up on the right, who cuts in and sets up Chhetri on a plate. The latter shoots straight onto Alam who saves it with a dive on to his right.

2nd Half kicks-off!

HALF TIME : Dhaka Abahani 0-2 Bengaluru FC

A first half with almost no action after the two goals being scored by Bengaluru comes to a close. Will Dhaka bounce back? Second half ten minutes away.

1 Minute Added on with Holy Azaan at the backdrop.

43' Subhasish Bose floats in a freekick. Alam collects.

35' Brilliant link up by Dhaka Abahani but the final ball is wide off the intended man and Bengaluru intercept, clear their lines.

34' Corner cleared away to safety by Juanan.

33' Suicidal! A cross from the left is not dealt with ease by Juanan as he almost ends up kicking it into the back of his own net. Corner to Dhaka Abahani.

32' Dhaka Abhani trying to claw back into the game but the Blues defense are up to the task.

UPDATE : Elsewhere, Aizawl FC are holding New Radiant to 0-0 (29').
FOLLOW THE GAME HERE : Sportskeeda LIVE Commentary : Aizawl FC vs New Radiant SC

26' Corner yields nothing for the Blues. Easily cleared away.

25' After a long spell of no action whatsoever, Bengaluru earn a corner.

16' aaaand it's 2-0! Chhetri with a brilliant first touch sets up Nishu Kumar, who shoots with power and finds the back of the net!

13' GOAAAAAL! Chhetri launches a counter single-handedly from the back, sets Segovia on a plate who taps it with ease. The Blues in white are ahead!

12' Chhetri dribbles past three defenders, wrong-foots one to create space for himself. Unleashes a weak shot, saved by the Abahani GK.

11' Lofted ball from the middle of the park towards Chhetri who is caught offside.

10' Nothing worthwhile happening here as the players are struggling to weave down passes in a near-swampy pitch, although it is Bengaluru who are trying harder to exploit the Abahani defense.

3' Bengaluru have a freekick swung in from the right but Dhaka Abahani clear their lines.

Bengaluru are in their away white as Dhaka Abahani are in their usual home blue colours.

KICK-OFF!

The AFC Anthem is sounding resounding !

The teams are out in an almost empty Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka.

Substitutes List

Dhaka Abahani : Prantosh Das, Imtiaz Sultan Jitu, Mohammed Mamun Miah, Mohammad Nayeem Mia, Sultan Sakhil, Syed Arafat Hossain Tasin, Faisal Ahmed Shitol

Bengaluru FC : Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Lenny Rodrigues, Thongkhosiem Haokip, Joyner Lourenco, Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Malsawmzuala Sawmtea

The Line Ups are in.

Dhaka Abahani : Shahidul Alam (GK), Nasiruddin Chowdhury, Waly Faisal, Rayhan Hasan, Emon Mahmud, Emeka Onuoha, Rubel Miya, Saad Uddin, Tutul Badsha. Nabib Newaz Jibon, Seiya Kojima

Bengaluru FC : Rahul Bheke, Juanan, Harmanjot Khabra, Sunil Chhetri, Daniel Segovia, Subhashish Bose, Erik Paartalu, Udanta Singh, Nishu Kumar, Lalthuammawia Ralte (GK), Víctor Pérez

Bengaluru FC may well be playing their last match of the season, as they face off against Abahani Dhaka at the Bangabandhu Stadium, in Dhaka, today.

The Blues have been on terrific form this season, making it to the final of the ISL, where they lost out to Chennaiyin FC, and then winning the Super Cup, defeating East Bengal in the summit clash.

The Blues have won four out of their five matches in Group E, and currently stand on 12 points. However, only the team that finishes top of the group can make it to the knockout stage of the tournament, and the Blues are currently behind New Radiant SC of the Maldives after losing out to the Maldivian side 2-0 in Male.

While both New Radiant and Benglauru have beaten each other once, the Maldivian team is currently ahead 2-1 on head-to-head stats, and would make it to the knockouts if they beat Aizawl.

However, if Aizawl do manage to get a draw or a win against New Radiant, Bengaluru FC would get right back into contention. They need to ensure that they finish with more points than New Radiant, after the end of this match.

You can catch the live updates from the Aizawl FC vs New Radiant match here