Eugeneson Lyngdoh strikes as BFC earn crucial away goal

A stunning left-footed strike by Eugeneson Lyngdoh earned Bengaluru FC a 1-1 draw and a crucial away goal in their AFC Cup first leg semi-final match against defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim in Malaysia on Wednesday.

Lyngdoh fired in a screamer from well outside the box to the left corner of the Johor net in the 57th minute after Jorge Pereyra Diaz had put the home side ahead in the 53rd minute at the Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium.

Wednesday’s draw would give an advantage to the I-League champions in their quest for a historic final appearance in the AFC Cup, the continent’s second tier club competition. Bengaluru play their second leg semi-final on October 19 at home at Kanteerava Stadium.

No Indian club had ever made it to the final of the AFC Cup. Bengaluru FC are only the third Indian club to have made it to the semi-finals of the AFC Cup, after Dempo (2008) and East Bengal (2013).

This was the third time these two sides met in this edition of the tournament. Bengaluru and Johor were clubbed in the group stage and the Malaysian giants won both the home and away group matches.

After a goalless first half, Diaz broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute. And when it looked like Johor’s first goal would break the back of BFC’s resistance, Roca’s charges found the equaliser four minutes later through Lyngdoh.