Football: Blues edge past Maziya with late goal

Bengaluru, Feb 24: A stoppage time goal by Shankar Sampangiraj saw Bengaluru FC snatching a 2-1 win over Maziya of Maldives in a Group E league match of the AFC Cup tournament here Tuesday.

After skipper Sunil Chhetri put the Blues ahead with a 68th minute strike, the visitors equalized through Mohamed Umair in the 89th minute before Sampangiraj sealed the game for the hosts in the stoppage time with a header off a Sean Rooney free-kick.

Having bossed all of the game, Bengaluru looked like cruising to three points after a Chhetri header put them in front, but 20 minutes later, centre-back John Johnson was penalized for a handball and Umair scored from the spot.

The Blues suffered an early set-back when less than 20 minutes into the game, coach Ashley Westwood had to pull out midfielder Joshua Walker who was struggling with a strained thigh.

The forced substitution almost turned out to be an ace when Siam Hanghal's rasping strike from 25 yards out, took the fingertips of Maziya goalkeeper Imran before crashing the crossbar and going out.

The Blues, however, continued to dominate and had their chances. Sampangiraj, who started in midfield for a rested Thoi Singh, had a header tipped over before Robin Singh and Eugeneson Lyngdoh had opportunities in quick succession.

The second-half saw the hosts step up the pace and Chhetri came agonizingly close twice inside 10 minutes with visiting goalkeeper Imran pulling off a brilliant save to deny the skipper's header.

However, the Anto-Chhetri combination was destined a goal on the night and it came from a header. Meeting Anto's perfect cross from the right, Chhetri thumped home a header that beat Imran all ends up.

Bengaluru's next Cup game is an away tie in Indonesia where they play Persipura Jayapura on March 10.