Starting Line-ups: 

After finishing the I-League as Champions, Bengaluru travelled to Aizawl to start their defence of the Federation Cup. Coach Ashley Westwood made just one change to the lineup that defeated Lao Toyota 2-1 in the AFC Cup on Wednesday, as he brought in Curtis Osano in place of suspended Keegan Pereira. The Blues lined up in their usual 4-3-3 formation with Kim, Udanta and Chhetri spearheading the attack.

The Champions had sneaked a 1-0 win the last time these two met at Aizawl and once again it turned out to be a close contest. Udanta Singh and Sunil Chhetri’s pace at the flanks and Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s runs from the midfield were predicted to cause Aizawl problems and it was the latter that whipped a corner in the third minute for Johnson to produce the first effort on target. That was a sign of things to come and the midfielder once again opened up the home side’s defence in the 15th minute for the opening goal. Eugeneson slid one through to Kim Song-Yong in the box and the North Korean striker put the I-League Champions ahead with a delightful flick with his back to the goal. The goal was later awarded to Eugeneson after the ball took a deflection off the midfielder.

With the all-important away goal in the bag, Bengaluru upped the pressure and pushed forward in search of the second. Although the Blues were dominating the match, Aizawl remained calm and waited for their opportunity from a set piece situation. It finally arrived in the 28th minute through a free-kick from David Lalrinmuana. The 23-year-old midfielder’s effort from outside the box looked set for the goal, but a wonderful save from Amrinder kept the away side in the lead.

With the score at 1-1, Aizawl kept their defence solid in the second half to add to the frustration of the Blues coach Ashley Westwood. To add more mettle to the attack, he brought Thoi Singh instead of defensive midfielder Malsawmzuala, but the change in personnel made no difference as the home side maintained their shape. With the Bengaluru attacks lacking end product, the match seemed headed for a 1-1 draw, but Joel Sunday’s deflected shot in the injury time put the home side ahead. Alfred Jaryan, the scorer of the first, turned provider this time and found Sunday in the box with a cutback, the Nigerian took a shot at the goal and the deflection off a defender left Amrinder helpless as the ball found the back of the net.

With the win, Aizawl will travel to the Garden City on May 3 for the second leg with a semi-final place in their grasps.