Bangalore: On the verge of scripting history, Bengaluru FC (BFC) will seek to become the first Indian club to enter the final of AFC Cup when they lock horns with defending champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDK) of Malaysia in the second leg semifinal of the premier event here Wednesday.
On earlier occasions, two Indian clubs – East Bengal and Dempo – had reached the semifinals. However, no club of the country have been able to make it to the summit clash.
The match at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here will be the fourth meeting between BFC and JDK in this edition of the tournament. The two were clubbed together in the group stage and the Malaysian giants had won both the home and away matches.
However, in the semifinal, BFC did not allow the defending champions to dominate and came back with a crucial away goal. In spite of the advantage, the hosts are not ready to take anything for granted.
“If we want to be in the final, we have to score a goal or two. The away goal is simply a consolation,” Albert Roca, BFC coach, told reporters on the eve of the match here Tuesday.
The hosts however, will start with as advantage as the visitors will be without three of their key players – Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Juan Martin Lucero and Amri Yahyah. But then Roca shot down suggestions that it will be easy for the hosts.
“This team are still the defending champions. They are still the favorites. It is not going to be easy,” said Roca. “It would be a fiercest mistake to consider tomorrow’s (Wednesday) match easy. They have good replacements – both are good national players and could be more competitive than the suspended Argentinian players,” he added.
Press Trust of India
