In a fairly entertaining AFC CUP semfinal first leg, Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim and India's Bengaluru FC played out a 1-1 draw. It was a game that picked up pace as it went on. In fairness, the Tigers will be disappointed they couldn't come away with the win at their home fortress of Larkin Stadium.
With the away goal, Bengaluru FC take a slender advantage for the return leg and Albert Roca's men will hope to make history on October 19th and become the first Indian team to reach the AFC Cup finals!
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Johor Darul Ta'zim
Izham Tarmizi – 6/10
Was under pressure with BFC's early pressing game, including a shanked clearnace in the 6th minute, but settled in well. In all honesty, he had very little to do all game, apart from picking the ball up from the back of the net after Lyngdoh's screamer.
Azrif Nasrulhaq – 8/10
The right back was solid in challenge, and tireless in his running. He put in a lot of good crosses, especially after JDT started swarming forward from the 15th minute on. He won a lot of fifty fifty challenges down the wing, one of which left Rino Anto in a crumpled heap.
Marcos Antonio – 7.5/10
The imposing Brazilian centre-back was imperious throughout. He kept Chettri and Vineeth quiet all game and put in a couple of strong challenges. Couldn't close Lyngdoh quickly enough for the BFC goal. A booking took some shine off an otherwise impressive performance.
Aidil Zafuan – 7.5/10
Like his defensive partner, Zafuan put in plenty of strong challenges including a good sliding tackle in the 10th minute that stopped a threatening BFC attack. Had a good header slighlty off target on the 20th minute. He landed awkwardly on the 65th minute after a rugged challenge with Vineeth but ran it off.
Hariss Harun – 6/10
Harun had a rather quiet game, and with his opposite number sticking to his defensive side rather than attacking like Anto on the other flank, and with Alwyn George strangely subdued. Put in a couple of good crosses but nothing much came off it. Safiq Rahim – 8/10 (off 83')
The JDT captain was brilliant throughout, and bossed the midfield throughout. He stuck to Alvaro Rubio with dogged determination. He had a great header on goal in the 31st minute that was tipped over by Amrinder. His corner delivery was exceptional, and it was his inswinging corner in the 52nd minute that led to JDT's goal.
Azammuddin Akil – 7/10 (off 75')
The right winger was excellent throughout and on a very humid evening, he put in plenty of good runs and dangerous crosses. He kept Anto honest throughout with his mazy dribbling and even tried a couple of ambitious volleys.
Pereyra Diaz – 8/10
The Argentinian – creative hub of the JDT team – was on his game tonight and created a number of chances. He will however rue a great chance that he missed on the 47th goal when his twinkling feet opened up some space in the BFC box. He scored the goal five minutes later though, with a fairly simple close range header where he outjumped the entire BFC backline. He was booked for a rather idiotic foul late in the game when he simply ran into Juanan. If he is on his A-game in the Kanteerava later in October, BFC will have a lot of trouble.
Fazly Mazlan – 6/10
The midfielder started the game horriby, a woefully shanked clearance almost gifting BFC with a golden chance in the opening few minutes of the game. Was instruemental in JDT setting the tempo for the match, especially in the latter parts of the first half.
Martin Lucero – 8/10
Lucero had an all-action game and was everywhere across the JDT attacking third. The Argentine had a couple of shots that were well saved, and had a header saved from point-blank range by the inform Amrinder. Played a very physical game and got booked for a smack to Johnson's face.
Azinee Taib – 7/10 (off 69')
The forward missed a clear chance on the 36th minute, but did not do much of note for the remainder of the match. Tried all game, but was kept quiet ably by Ranjan and co.
Substitutes
69' Suppiah Chanturu – 6/10
The winger made an instant impact with a hefty tackle on Rino Anto, and almost found himself the hero when his outstretched legs barely missed a teasing Azrif cross.
75' Amri Yahah – 4/10
The midfielder who has dyed his hair JDT blue got a yellow with his first involvement. Added some zest to the middle of the park, but didn't do much of note.
83' Amirul Hadi Zainal – 5/10
Came on very late, and had too little time to make an impact. Had a couple of mazy runs down the right, and won a couple of corners.
Bengaluru FC
Amrinder Singh – 9/10
Despite a flustered fumble on the 26th minute, and his general shakiness when a high ball came in, the BFC shot stopper put in a match-saving performances with several excellent saves. The two stand outs were when he saved point blank from Lucero and pulled off an acrobatic one from a loing range Safiq Rahim attempt.
Rino Anto – 7/10
The Malayalee put in another one of his tireless shifts, putting in a couple of threatening crosses. He went on a superb run in the 3nd minute and won a freekick in a dangerous position for BFC. Faded with the rest of his team though as the game wore on.
Juanan – 7/10
The Spaniard showcased exceptional positioning to stop a number of JDT attacks including a superb tackle on the 23rd minute. Was booked, rather unfairly, after reacting to a bad Pereyra challenge.
John Johnson – 6/10
The Englishman had a solid game at the back, putting his body on the line (almost John Terry-esque) as he pulled off block after block. Was at fault for the goal though when he left one of the oppostion's most dangerous players free in the box that led to the JDT goal.
Ranjan – 6.5/10
The right back had a decent game, putting in a great defensive shift, but offered little going forward. He had a couple of horrible fouls in the five minuted before half time and pulled off a superb block on Lucero in the 81st minute
Alvaro Rubio – 5/10
The Spanish midfield maestro had a tame showing after his great performances in the quarters against Tampines Rovers. Shafiq and co.put a lid on the Spaniards passing game and he wasnt able to influence the game as is his wont.
Cameron Watson – 6.5/10
The Australian Wall had a good game. The scrapppier it got, the happier he was, and he put in some great blocks. Did not contribute much offensively, and it cannot have escaped Roca's notice that BFC's goal came when he moved Lyngdoh back in from the wings.
Eugenson Lyngdoh – 9/10 (off 89')
WHAT A SUPER GOAL the midfield general scored. With a little shimmy he unleashed a hammershot with his weaker left foot that arrowed into the bottom corner. He had a very quiet first half where he was marooned on the left wing, but with Roca shifting to 5-3-2, he grew into the game. He was involved in a couple of rather nasty tackles (including one where he rammed into the goalie's abdomen chasing a through ball) but he put in a superb shift and was arguably BFC's best outfiled player.
Alwyn George – 5/10
The Nagpur lad had a very quiet game and could not affect proceedings as he would have liked. Was subbed off in the 69th minute as Roca looked to establish his 5-3-2 formation.
CK Vineet – 6/10 (off '77)
Vineet ran his socks off despite the stifling heat and humidity. Got little to no support up front, with Chettri dropping deep to provide added muscle in the midfield, but could do nothing with the few chances he did get
Sunil Chettri – 6.5/10
Captain Marvel looked slightly off colour and had a couple of misses – some of them from self-engineered chances where he created space with some sublime skill. Dropped in deep to counter JDT's midfield superiority and pulled off an exceptional pass on the 14th minute that Vineet couldn't latch on to. Looked increasingly frustrated as he was starved of service, and went missing for large patches of the game.
Substitutes
69' Vishal – 5/10
He was brought on to add defensive stability and did so without adding much attacking thrust as right wingback
77' Daniel – 5/10
Added some much needed fresh legs in midfield, but was rather anonumous going forward
89' Beiko – NA
Had no time to impact proceedings
