Indian football hit a new high as I-League side Bengaluru FC became the first team from the country to make it to the final of the AFC Cup. Captain Sunil Chhetri led from the front with a double strike as Bengaluru FC beat Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) 3-1 at Kanteerva Stadium.?
PTI
Bengaluru made it to the final by virtue of superior aggregate goal difference of 4-2. The first leg in Malaysia ended in a 1-1 draw.
It was a historic moment for Indian football as no club from the country has ever made it to the summit clash of the prestigious second-tier continental tournament.
AFP
The significance of this achievement could be gauged by the fact that only two Indian football clubs - Dempo Sports Club of Goa and Kolkata giants East Bengal - had made it to the semi-finals of the tournament since its inception.
The Indian team trailed 1-0 once Shafiq Rahim slotted home for the visitors in the 11th minute but close to half-time (41st minute) Chhetri rose to the occasion and headed home a corner kick from Eugenson Lyngdoh. Chhetri evaded the defence and timed his jump to perfection to bring the 'Blues' back in the match.
AFP
However, the defining moment came in the second half (67th minute) when Chhetri made space for himself from 30-yards and took a crack with his in-step to slot home, beating the outstretched hands of custodian Izham. An indirect free kick was beautifully swerved into the 18-yard box by Chhetri as the lanky Juanan outjumped the defensive melee to place the delivery to perfection as the fans went into delirium.
AFP
The third goal was scored by Bengaluru's Spanish defender Juan Antonio Gonzalez in the 75th minute.
What followed then was barrage of tweets praising he team and Chhetri...