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Bengaluru FC should guard against complacency

BFC have the advantage but with conditions likely to be tricky, the Blues should be taking nothing for granted.

By Sajith
Suni Chhetri

Bengaluru, September 12: As Bengaluru FC take on 4.25SC in the return leg of the AFC Cup inter-zonal semifinal at May Day Stadium, Pyongyang tomorrow (September 13) they should guard against complacency.

The match will begin at 2pm IST (5pm local time) at May Day Stadium.

Having defeated the North Korean club 3-0 comfortably in the first leg at home, BFC have the advantage but with conditions likely to be tricky, the Blues should be taking nothing for granted.

The Blues have lost last two away games and that should also be a reason for concern for Albert Roca and his wards. This is the first time that any Indian club is visiting North Korea and the unknown conditions should be a challenge for the Blues.

Skipper Sunil Chhetri who scored the team's opening goal in the rain-marred first leg at Sree Kanteerava Stadium on August 23 will once again hold the key to the Blues's fortunes while much will be expected from the ever-improving Udanta Singh.

The Blues arrived in Pyongyang a day late as their initial plans to reach early was changed due to DPR Korea's Foundation Day Celebrations.

"We're confident going into the game. But there's no place for complacency. We know that they're a strong opponent and have to be focused to get the job done in Pyongyang," Roca told BFC website.

For the home side, much will depend on tournament top-scorer Kim Yu-Song, who has found net nine times so far while skipper An Il-Bom is another key player and BFC is quite wary of their challenge as evident from midfielder Harmanjot Khabra's words.

"Their players are much more suited to the surroundings and this is their home advantage. A good thing is that we haven't conceded a goal in the home leg but still we're working on the few mistakes that we made during the game and want to improve," Khabra told BFC website.

Whoever is through takes on the winner of the other last-four tie between Tajikistan club FC Istiklol and the Philippines' Ceres Negros FC.

Last year BFC had reached the final where they lost to Iraq's Air Force Club.

Story first published: Tuesday, September 12, 2017, 15:47 [IST]
Other articles published on Sep 12, 2017