The 2016 AFC Cup finalists Bengaluru FC fell to a highly spirited Tajik club Istiklol FC in the first leg of their Inter-Zonal final match in the AFC Cup. The game which was being played at Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, saw the hosts lay siege to the Bengaluru goal registering over 7 shots on target as opposed to the visitors’ 2. Dmitri Barkov’s bullet header just before the half hour mark was a just reward for their efforts. It was only late into the second half that Albert Roca’s team found some purpose in their attacking efforts and it almost paid off as Udanta Singh’s fine solo run nearly gave the Steelmen a precious away goal to take back to the second leg at the Sri Kanteerava Stadium on October 18th. The match will have added incentive for the home side to go for the win as in addition to being able to make their 2nd AFC Cup final in as many years, it will also mean that the AFC Cup final will be hosted at Bengaluru. We at Footieculture will be there on October 18th and we would certainly encourage every Indian football fan to make it there as well.
