Bengaluru FC defeated Singapore's Tampines Rovers 1-0 in the first leg of their AFC Cup quarter-final on Wednesday through CK Vineeth's goal in the seventh minute. The match took place behind closed doors due to the prevailing security situation in the city.
Bengaluru had a slew of chances to extend their lead but had little to show for their possession. The second leg will be played on September 21.
The home team started on the front foot and won an early corner and looked the better team in the opening exchanges. It was Sunil Chhetri's vision that helped Bengaluru FC set up the goal. The Indian talisman's through ball found Alwyn George, who set up the onrushing Vineeth, who thumped the ball into the top corner.
Bengaluru were controlling the game and it looked like a second goal was on the cards. Things started to go from bad to worse for the Rovers, whose defender, Mustafic Fahrudin, limped off due to injury, and was replaced by Afiq Yunos. Pushing higher up the field and fielding plenty of bodies in midfield, Bengaluru continued to threaten but there were signs that a quick-fire counter-attack could cut them open.
Midfielder Alvaro Rubio was probably the difference between the two teams as he was covering a lot of ground, offensively and defensively. Left-back Nishu Kumar then found space and unleashed a powerful strike, which was going goalwards. Rovers' goalkeeper Mohammed Izwan, who was under a considerable amount of pressure tipped the ball over the bar, with five minutes left in the first half.
Rovers started the second half pushing hard for the equaliser. Jordan Webb came close with an attempt as a momentary lapse from the Bengaluru defence opened up space for them, but the chance was spurned with the shot going wide. Chhetri and Eugeneson Lyngdoh on the left then combined to set up George, who hit the post.
Bangalore soon settled down and found their rhythm back in the game. Vineeth got closer to scoring his second goal as Bengaluru continued to knock on the doors of the Rovers' defense. Just as it looked like the two-time I-League winners were running away with the contest, the threat of conceding an away goal loomed large. Rovers' Muhammad Yasir cracked a shot with his left, narrowly missing the post.
Chhetri missed what was possibly the best chance of the game. The striker had only the goalkeeper in front of him but his tame shot was comfortably saved by Izwan. Bengaluru will hope that the lack of goals does not come back to bite them in the second leg.
