AFC Cup 2020: Sunil Chhetri boost for Bengaluru FC ahead of must-win game

Reigning Indian Super League (ISL) champions Bengaluru FC face their most crucial tie of the season yet as they take on Maziya S&RC in the second leg of the AFC Cup playoff at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday.

Having lost the first leg 1-2 in the Maldives, Carles Cuadrat. need to ensure a win to progress to the group stage of the tournament. However, Nili Perdomo’s away goal means that just a 1-0 result might be enough. For Maziya, though, a draw would take them to the main round of the continental competition.

Thankfully, for Carles Cuadrat, Sunil Chhetri is set to make a welcome return after a gap of five games in what will be a huge boost for the team.

“The whole team knows what to do,” said Chhetri at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday. “We hold the AFC Cup very high in our agenda and we are going to go for it. But we need to be careful because any goal we concede is going to make things difficult. So it will be controlled aggression. But it’s at home and we back ourselves.”

https://twitter.com/bengalurufc/status/1232519018218549248

That they are playing at home should give BFC some much-needed confidence to overturn the deficit. After all, in 20 continental matches at home, the Blues have lost just three.

Chhetri, however, conceded that they have been guilty of missing several chances and should look to rectify that. “We have been guilty of missing chances; myself, Udanta [Singh], Ashique [Kuruniyan]. But the good part is that we are creating a lot of chances. With the last few games left, this is our time [to score],” he said.

Although they need just a draw to go through, Maziya arrived in the city four days ahead of the contest on Saturday to get accustomed to the conditions. “We are happy with the lead, but we need to continue the form,” their coach said. “A draw is enough but you don't play for a draw. You always try to win. But if it finishes in a draw, it’s good for us.”