AFC Cup 2016: Chhetri-less Bengaluru goes down to ten-men Lao Toyota

AFC Cup 2016: Chhetri-less Bengaluru goes down to ten-men Lao Toyota

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Image Courtesy: © BFC Media

2015 Federation Cup champions Bengaluru FC’s 2016 AFC Cup campaign got off to a poor start after they lost 1-2 to Lao Toyota FC in the opening match of Group H at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane on Wednesday. CK Vineeth scored the consolation goal for Bengaluru in the 90th minute.

Starting Line-ups:

Lao Toyota: Vathana, Saito, Saison, Yamada, Phatthana, Sitthideth, Yamaguchi, Moukda, Homma, Paseuthsack, Khouanta

Bengaluru FC: Ralte (GK), Rino, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai, Osano, Johnson, Collins, Shankar, Alwyn, Beikho, Vineeth, Kim

After reaching the last-16 stage last time around, Federation Cup champions Bengaluru FC travelled to the capital of Laos, Vientiane in the opening match of Group H to take on 2015 Lao Premier League champions Lao Toyota FC. In the absence of skipper Sunil Chhetri and midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh, who are out injured, coach Ashley Westwood put out a strong team comprising of North Korean striker Kim Seon Yeong and winger CK Vineeth.

However, the Indian side got off to a poor start after Japanese forward Kazuo Honma scored in the third minute to put the Lao Toyota in the lead. A defensive error in the Bengaluru box gave the veteran striker a chance from close range and he tapped it home to put the home side ahead. Bengaluru slowly came into the match with Vineeth and Beikho using their pace to get behind the defenders.

Bengaluru received another blow in the 35th minute when Laotian midfielder Phatthana Syvilay hit a perfect free-kick into the right corner to double the lead for the hosts. Trailing 0-2 in the game, coach Ashley Westwood made two changes during half-time and brought in youngsters Zuala and Udanta in place of Alwyn and Beikho. The arrival of Udanta brightened the game of the Indian side, but the absence of the midfield general Eugeneson Lyngdoh once again affected them with Shankar and Collins not being able to control the midfield.

The hosts went down to ten men in the 65th minute after Laotian midfielder Moukda Souksavath received two quick yellow cards to receive the marching orders from the referee. With numerical advantage the Blues dominated the pitch for the last twenty minutes, but failed to deliver the end product in the final third. With the time running out, CK Vineeth smashed in one from distance to pull one goal back for the Blues, but it proved to be too little, too late as Lao Toyota hanged on to win the match 2-1.  

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