AIFF Media Team

BENGALURU: JSW Bengaluru FC started their AFC Cup 2017 campaign with a 2-1 win over their familiar foes Mohun Bagan at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru tonight. 

Katsumi Yusa (36') provided the away team with a much-needed lead from the 12-yard penalty spot in the first half. The Blues came back strongly in the second half as Sandesh Jhingan (51') tapped home the equaliser and Sunil Chhetri (57') scored another inch-perfect free-kick from the top of the box to settle with a win in the AFC Cup 2017 opener.

Roca’s two changes from the game on Saturday included starts for CK Vineeth and Salam Ranjan Singh ahead of Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Nishu Kumar as Bengaluru started out in what looked like a 4-2-3-1 formation. 

Mariners hit the gas at the starting and they came too close to scoring the opener but Arindam denied the visitors to provide some breathing space to the Blues. 

Bagan were awarded a penalty in the 36th minute when Jhingan’s trailing leg caught Sony Norde in the box. Arindam picked the right side but Yusa’s take was hit with enough power to fly beyond and give the Kolkata club the lead. 

Roca introduced Eugeneson Lyngdoh at the expense of Lenny Rodrigues in the second half. Jhingan hit home Bengaluru’s equaliser from a well-worked set-piece in the 51st minute. 

In the 57th minute, Shilton stepped out of the box with the ball in his hand, giving the Blues a free kick in a dangerous position. Chhetri made no mistake with his effort, which pried through the Bagan wall and found the net to send the Blues faithful into a frenzy. 

A free-kick from Juanan seemed like the icing on the cake for the Blues but his take was inches away from the Bagan crossbar.

Eventually, the match came to an end to provide some respite to the Blues who were not going through a not-so-well phase in the Hero I-League. After the tad break, the Blues will resume their Hero I-League campaign against the Mariners in the reverse leg on April 1, 2017, at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium in Kolkata.