BENGALURU: Robin Singh fired home a long-range winner a little short of fifteen minutes from time to give Bengaluru FC a 1-0 win over Warriors FC in an AFC Cup match at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Tuesday.
Bengaluru’s first away win in Asia came after they endured a frustrating 75 minutes where a combination of fine goalkeeping and lackadaisical finishing meant the overwhelming domination by the visitors would count for nothing. Bengaluru FC now have nine points from four games and sitting second on the Group E table, are well on track to make it out of the group stages.
Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood chose to start Sean Rooney on the bench, handing Beikhokhei Beingaichho a place on the right. But just as Bengaluru were getting more than a toe hold into the game, the gaffer was forced into a substitution after John Johnson struggled with what looked like a tight gluteal muscle.
With a packed League schedule ahead, Westwood chose not to risk Johnson, replacing him with Gurtej Singh who made his Asian debut for the club. Sensing the hosts were content to sit back and defend, Bengaluru wasted little time in chasing the goal that took a while to come. Captain Sunil Chhetri had the best chance of the first half when he was denied by Ong from a move he began.
Making a quick steal on the left, Chhetri exchanged a quick one-two with Robin that found him one-on-one with Ong who charged the striker to thwart his attempt to finish. It wouldn’t be the only time Ong would deny the Blues’ skipper on the night. Only minutes later, Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s tap in from close was kept away by Ong as Bengaluru went to the drawing board with everything but a goal.
Bengaluru carried their frustrating run into the second-half. But a loose goal kick by Marin Vidosevic was picked up by Lyngdoh who found Robin. Twenty-five yards away and two touches later, Robin picked Ong’s left before unleashing a strike to get the Blues full points.