A draw against Istiklol FC ends Bengaluru FC's journey in the AFC Cup 2017....

Bengaluru FC manage a disappointing 2-2 draw against Istiklol FC at the Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru on Wednesday evening as they crash out of the AFC Cup 2017 losing 2-3 on aggregate. They had lost their away fixture in the first leg 0-1 at Tajikistan.

Nuriddin Davronov and Dmitrii Barkov scored for the away side, while Rahul Bheke and Sunil Chhetri found the back of the net for Bengaluru FC,

Spanish coach Albert Roca fielded his team in a 4-3-3 formation in a must-win AFC Cup semi-final second leg game at the Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru. The front three comprised of Sunil Chhetri, Daniel Lalhimpuia and Udanta Singh.

It was a horrific start for Bengaluru FC as they conceded a penalty as early as in the 2nd minute. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was at fault for committing a silly foul on Istiklol captain Fathullo Fathuloen. Nuriddin Davronov comfortably found the back of the net from the penalty spot.

After the early jolt, the Indian side went all out as they had to score three goals in order to qualify. Sunil Chhetri came very close to score twice in a span of five minutes but his efforts where easily stopped by goalkeeper Nikola Stosic.

Istiklol too could have doubled the lead and shatter Bengaluru’s hopes of qualifying for the final within the first 15 minutes but failed to find the back of the net.

As time progressed, Bengaluru slowly took the the control of the game in their hands and started pushing for the equalising goal. Their efforts got rewarded in the 25th minute when defender Rahul Bheke headed in Udanta Singh’s cross from a point-blank range and restored parity in the match.

Chhetri could have scored the second goal at the half-hour mark when his effort struck the crossbar and came back. The Bengaluru FC skipper was terribly frustrated after that miss.

An off-colour Harmanjyot Singh Khabra added to Bengaluru’s troubles in the 40th minute when he fouled Dmitrii Barkov just outside the box and got a second yellow and sent off. With two more goals to score, the Federation Cup champions’ chances looked bleak.

Roca introduced Toni Dovale in the 53rd minute replacing Lenny Rodriguez indicating an attacking approach for the second half. But Istiklol sealed the fate of the match within two minutes by scoring their second goal.

Fathuloev had sent a through ball inside the box which was met by Dzhalilov who in return passed it towards unmarked Barkov. The jersey number 10 found the back of the net with ease.

Bengaluru pulled one back in the 64th minute thanks to a brilliant free-kick from skipper Sunil Chhetri. Daniel Lalhimpuia was brought inside the penalty box Stetsenko and the referee didn’t hesitate to award the home side a penalty.

The Indians tried their hearts out in the last 25 minutes to score two more goals but the Tajikistani side looked determined in defending their lead.