AFC Cup 2017: Bengaluru FC vs April 25 Sports Club

What a result for the Blues! They take a three-goal lead to Pyongyang next week and by the look of things, another inter-zonal final is not beyond BFC's reach. The wet and soggy conditions played their part, but BFC were well worth their big lead. That's all from us here. We'll be back for the second leg.

Full-time: Bengaluru 3-0 April 25 SC

90+1' We are into the final moments of the match as 2 minutes of time added on.

88' Daniel!!

What a miss by the India U-23 striker who sends his effort into an empty net wide. That could've sealed the entire tie for good.

86' Lenny has hurt himself in the swampy conditions and he is taken off for Subhasish Bose.

83' Shot from Chhetri!

The BFC skipper dances his way past the puddles and the 4.25 SC defenders before unleashing what could be said to be a weak effort.

82' Udanta, one of the players of the match, is taken off to be replaced by Daniel Lalhlimpuia.

82' Not even two passes can be strung together in this paddy field but BFC are keeping possession inside the 4.25 SC half which only serves to highlight their dominance.

81' It's become a slog fest here as the pitch gets heavier with every passing minute. BFC's Indian contingent is having a field day.

77' Perhaps the difficult conditions played a part but BFC are well worth their three-goal lead. Chhetri and Udanta are running the show here and even the full-backs are getting involved in attack now.

75' That is game over now for 4.25 SC as BFC score their third of the night. Chhetri the instigator again as his perfectly weighted cross into the path of the onrushing Lenny gets the contact it needed. Lenny gives BFC a three-goal lead.

75' GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL BFC!

74' The conditions are getting worse now with puddles of water all over the Kanteerava pitch. Can BFC hold on to their 2-0 advantage?

71' Chance for 4.25 SC!

A glorious chance for the away chance to pull one goal back but the cutback from inside the BFC box is somehow deflected behind for a corner. BFC are all at sea but the conditions mean that the final pass was far from the perfect one.

69' Chance for BFC!

Lenny with a shot from range and his effort dipped and swerved before being parried away for a corner.

67' Some clumsy play from BFC leads to a few openings for 4.25 SC here. However, April 25 fail to capitalize in the rainy conditions.

64' Dimas with a fine ball through to Chhetri but the captain is offside. Some brilliant bit of interplay in midfield led to that chance but the 4.25 SC defence maintains its line and earns a freekick.

62' The intensity of the downpour has increased leading to some patchy play from both sides. 4.25 SC have gone for a more direct approach after going two goals down.

58' The game is opening up with each passing minute. Gurpreet has to move out of his area to clear a long ball aimed at Kim. The conditions aren't helping the away side either.

56' Chance for 4.25 SC!

Il Bom with a headed effort on goal, but Gurpreet catches the ball fairly comfortably off a weak header.

55' What a menace Udanta has been in the 2nd half so far. In the pouring rain, the youngster is wreaking havoc in the 4.25 SC defence. At this moment, BFC will be well worth another goal.

8 minutes into the 2nd half and BFC have doubled their advantage. Two goals from Chhetri and Udanta look to have sealed things for the day for BFC.

51' What a goal by the "Flash" Udanta, who intercepts a 4.25 SC pass inside the attacking half and races towards the goal before placing the ball cooly beyond Kang's reach in the 4.25 goal. What a goal by the young Indian star!

51' GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL BFC!

49' Chance for April 25!

Kim gets clear after a clipped ball over the BFC defence finds the striker one-on-one with Gurpreet, but the India number one is equal to the task and parries the ball well. That was close for 4.25 SC.

47' 4.25 SC with a wicked cross which flies across the face of Gurpreet's goal. Luckily for BFC, no one got on the end of that ball.

46' BFC kick off the 2nd half. Can the Blues add to their lead?

The players are out on the pitch as we are almost underway in the 2nd half.

It was far from the ideal half of football but BFC have the lead at the break. Captain Sunil Chhetri was as cool as ever while planting his spot-kick past J. Kang but he wasn't as fortunate the second time out, a clipped shot that was somehow tipped behind by Kang was BFC's second best opening of the game.

Half-time: BFC 1-0 4.25 SC

45+1' That sums up the 1st half for 4.25 SC. The away side get into a dangerous area inside the BFC defensive third but they overhit the final cross.

45+1' 1 minute of time added on.

43' Chance for BFC!

Chhetri with a lucky break that sees him in the clear with only the goalkeeper to beat. However, the striker's chipped effort is tipped wide for a corner. BFC with a 2nd goal, almost.

42' Bheke could've been in a spot of bother there after the April 25 captain went down inside the BFC box, but the referee waves play on.

40' BFC have a spring in their steps now after scoring the opening goal. They look more confident on the ball and composed as April 25 can't wait for the half-time break.

37' April 25 go in search of the equaliser after Lenny's poor pass is intercepted in the middle of the park. The away side eventually get a cross through but the header is just wide of Gurpreet's goal.

34' BFC lead here and it was all down to Khabra and Udanta's efforts. The former's header set the Manipuri winger on his way who got to the ball before Kang could do a thing.

33' Who else, but our captain fantastic Sunil CHHETRI with a panenka!

33' GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL BFC!

32' It was Udanta's pace that proved too hot to handle for April 25. R. Kang, their goalkeeper brings down the winger.

32' Penalty to BFC!

30' April 25 with another shot but this time, Ri's effort after a weak clearance from Paartalu goes way over the bar. No problems for Gurpreet there.

29' Another booking for BFC as Dimas gets yellow for illegally bringing down an April 25 player.

27' Gurpreet with the save!

Ri's near post free-kick gets the ex-Stabaek keeper into action but he deals with the danger well to palm the ball away for a corner. It all came about after Toni recklessly conceded a free-kick.

26' Stats so far:

BFC - 1 shot on goal

April 25 - 3 shots on goal

24' What a wicked delivery that was from Ri!

April 25 nearly scored there after Gurpreet, who decided to come out, was well-beaten. However, it was an offside call that spared BFC's blushes. What an opening for April 25.

23' Lenny Rodrigues gets the 1st booking of the game after a two-footed lunge at the edge of BFC's penalty box.

21' Toni with a well-worked free-kick that reaches Chhetri, but the India captain fails to get a shot away after his initial square ball back gets blocked. He couldn't generate enough power in his second attempt as April 25 survive again. BFC are looking better now.

20' Chance for Dimas as he races against the April 25 'keeper but fails to get a strong shot away. April 25 survive.

19' BFC with some neat passing here but Nishu's lofted ball into Udanta's path is a bit too heavy.