Bengaluru FC have been one of India’s most successful teams in the last three years. The team, since its inception in 2013, have gone about building a club the right way.
With Mohun Bagan ousted from the AFC Cup, the onus is on the Bangalore side to carry the Indian flag as far as possible.
Their next hurdle in the quarter-finals of the competition is Singapore-based football club Tampines Rovers. Tampines defeated Mohun Bagan in the Round of 16 and has all the resources to end Indian hopes in the quarter-finals of the competition.
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The two teams face off on September 14th for the first leg in Bengaluru while the second leg will be held on 21st September in Singapore.
The Indian side has the ability to cause an upset, but the team start as underdogs.
Here, we take a look at the five key players who can have enormous effects on the result of the game.
#1 Amrinder Singh
Indian teams have, more often than not, been caught on the back-foot by opposition attacks, and thus, Amrinder Singh plays a pivotal role in this match. With loads of experience at just 23, Amrinder is one of the best goalkeepers in Indian football.
The custodian won the award for Best Goalkeeper of I-league last season with Bengaluru FC, keeping 9 clean sheets.
It is not just Amrinder’s saves that is a boon for the I-League champions, but his positional sense, his understanding of the game and the way he communicates with his defence Standing tall at 6 ft 1 inch, Amrinder is a confident goalkeeper who’s known to make his presence felt in the box during opposition set-pieces.
The India keeper would need to be on the top of his game to keep the threat of strikers Fazrul Nawaz and Sufian Anuar at bay. The defensive onus, thus, would be on Amrinder and if Bengaluru FC manages to keep a clean sheet, it will give them a good chanceof progressing.
#2 Jordan Webb
Fast, creative and an effective dribbler, Jordan Webb at 28 years of age is on the top of his game. The Canadian winger is one of the vital cogs in the Tampines Rovers team.
In the match against Mohun Bagan FC, Webb impressed the audience with his brilliant off-the-ball runs, creative dribbling and his effective link-up play.
Webb is known to find a space, which is more reason, for John Johnson and the Bengaluru FC defence to keep a close eye on him. The winger is a powerful customer, and standing at just about 6 feet, has a fairly good presence in the air too.
Usually deployed on the right-wing, Webb can get past 2-3 defenders with relative ease. Equally capable of playing on the left-wing and cutting in, Webb has the ability to move inside and play the final pass, through-ball or even hit from distance.
#3 Jermaine Pennant
Pennant would be the biggest name on the team list of both the squads in this match. The former Arsenal youth player and a Liverpool main-stay in their run to the Champions League Final in 2006-07 is known for his effective and fast runs down the flank.
At 33, Pennant might have lost a yard of speed, but he makes that up with his experience. Having played the UEFA Champions League final in 2006-07 against AC Milan, Pennant has been there on the biggest of the stages and knows how to win big matches.
The star winger can effortlessly beat defenders and has the ability to deliver pin-point crosses into the opposition box.
Pennant is no stranger to Indian football and played in the Indian Super League side FC Pune City.
The experienced winger must be closely watched if Bengaluru have any chance of winning the game.
#4 Eugeneson Lyngdoh
No other Indian midfielder is capable of doing things the Shillong lad can on the field and that is exactly why he’s rated so highly throughout the national football fraternity. If Bengaluru FC wishes to keep going ahead in the AFC Cup, Eugeneson needs to be at his best and get on the ball.
Eugeneson has the ability to control games, can run with the ball, contribute in the defensive set-up and also create chances for his strikers. He’s the Indian main-stay in midfield and Bengaluru FC will have a better chance of victory if Eugeneson applies himself well.
Lyngdoh is known for his accurate through-balls and dangerous deliveries from set-pieces – a good way for Bengaluru FC to threaten Tampines’ goal.
The midfielder’s link-up play is excellent and he is also very effective as a deep-lying playmaker.
It is needless to say that Eugeneson will have a big role to play in Bengaluru FC’s chance of victory against Tampines Rovers.
#5 Sunil Chhetri
One of the best footballers to play for India, Chhetri is just 5’ 7”, but what he lacks in height, he makes up with his all-round play, never-give-up attitude and an eye for goal.
A striker who can do it all, Chhetri would be integral to the Bengaluru FC team for both his football and leadership skills. The national team record scorer plays a very important role in the team and every attacking threat will have the marking of the striker.
Chhetri is as important in open-play, as he is on dead-ball situations. The striker recently scored and assisted in India’s victory over Puerto Rico and would be brimming with confidence.
With no foreigners in the attacking department, Albert Roca would be looking at Sunil for delivering the goods when it matters most. Chhetri is no stranger to big matches and knows how to handle pressure well. If this player gets going, Bengaluru FC would have much less to worry about.
