Bengaluru FC are on the verge of writing their names into the history of Indian football as they take on Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Air Force Club) of Iraq in the AFC Cup Final 2016. Billed as India’s biggest game this century. Alberto Roca’s men will be up against one of the most feared teams in this year’s
Here’s a look at some essential facts that you should have in mind before the action starts in Doha.
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#1 A first for both nations
Clubs from neither nations have become AFC Cup champions since its’ inception in 2004. Only one Iraqi club has made it to the finals before Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya as Arbil FC finishing runners-up in both 2012 as well as 2014. Meanwhile, this is the first time that Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya are participating in the competition. The Air Force club have qualified thrice for the AFC Champions League (2004, 2006 and 2008), but have never been able to get past the group stages of the competition.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC have already scripted history when they defeated defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim in the semis to become the first ever Indian team to qualify for the finals of the AFC Cup. Dempo (2008) and East Bengal (2013) had previously come as far as the semis.
#2 East Asia vs West Asia
This game can also be scripted as a West Asia vs East Asia clash. Whilst Bengaluru FC are yet to face a team from the Western part of the continent in the competition, the same can be said of the Air Force club, who have not encountered as East Asian team on their road to the final.
Looking back at history, though, the odds seemed to be heavily in favour of the Iraqi side with 11 of the previous 12 champions coming from the West Asia. Joor Darul Ta'zim who won the tournament last year are the only champions from East Asia. In fact, the Malaysian side in the only team from the Eastern part of the continent to have ever made the final of the AFC Cup before Bengaluru FC.
#3 India's record against Iraq in international competition
If we state India’s record against Iraq to be poor it would be an understatement. The word abysmal might come close, but we can decide upon that on a later date.
The first time the two nations locked horns was in the 1974 in the Asian Games in Tehran. The outcome was a 3-0 thrashing handed out by the Iraqis. And four years later when they again met in the same competition Arun Ghosh saw his side succumb to a second defeat in as many Asian Games by the same scoreline.
India, in fact, had to wait 15 years since their first meeting to score a goal against Iraq. Former Mohun Bagan midfielder Satyajit Chatterjee’s put one past Iraq when they met against the middle east nation in the 1989 Nehru Cup. However, that wasn’t enough as Iraq ran out 2-1 winners.
Whilst India did get a credible 1-1 draw against Iraq when they met in Kolkata in 1990, it was business as usual two years later in Kochi as India succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat.
When pitted against each other in Olympic qualifiers (where three players over the age of 23 are allowed per team) in 2007, the Iraqis thrashed India again by a 3-0 scoreline in their home leg. Whilst India were able to garner a credible 1-1 draw in the home leg, it was never enough to progress further.
The last time the two sides met was in 2010 when Iraq ran out 2-0 winners in an international friendly.
#4 Bengaluru can re-write another piece of history
The first meeting between clubs from these two nations took place when Mohun Bagan clashed against Al Rasheed in the erstwhile 1987 Cup winners Cup in Dhaka. The Iraqis took the spoils that day, drowning the Mariners 2-0. Two years later, when the same teams clashed again; this time in Guangzhou, China, the winning margin was doubled.
Since the format of the AFC Cup was drawn up, Dempo and East Bengal are the only Indian clubs to have faced Iraqi opponents but that too without much success. Whilst Dempo went down 1-0 to Duhok in 2011, East Bengal lost both legs against Arbil in 2012, who were the eventual runners-up that season.
The only hurrah for Indian clubs against the Iraqis came in 1993 when East Bengal squared off against a strong Al Zawra side. The team which had the likes of 1988 Asian Player of the Year Ahmed Radhi in their ranks, had a number of key members of the national side in their team. However, they were in for a rollicking at the Salt Lake Stadium as a Carlton Chapman hat-trick propelled the Red and Gold to a memorable 6-2 victory.
While Al Zawra did win the return leg 2-0, it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit as East Bengal moved on to the next round.
#5 Numbers you should know
-1: Bengaluru FC are one of only two teams to have qualified from the league stage with a negative goal difference.
3: Bengaluru FC are currently in their third season in the I-League. The only other I-League club, who is younger? DSK Shivajians. Meanwhile, the Air Force Club of Iraq is the oldest club in the country, having been formed in 1931.
5: Bengaluru’s talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri is also their highest goalscorer in the tournament with 5 goals to his name.
6: Just like Bengaluru, Air Force Club of Iraq is only under new management. The team has looked formidable under their new coach Basim Qasim and are still unbeaten in six games under the former Police Lieutenant.
9: Bengaluru’s 9 goals in the group stage is in fact also the second lowest (tied with three other teams) amongst the teams to have qualified for the knockout stages.
15: Air Force Club’s tally of 15 gaols in the group stages was the highest. Although they did suffer an embarrassing 5-2 defeat at the hands of Al Wahda.
15: Air Force Club striker Hammadi Ahmed is the highest goalscorer in the tournament with 15 goals.
1,000,000: The winner of the competition is set to net a cool $1 million as prize money whilst the runners up will garner $500k.
