AFC Cup 2016: Bengaluru FC reach quarters with thrilling 3-2 win over Kitchee SC

Bengaluru FC reached the the quarterfinals of the AFC Cup for the first time in their history with a 3-2 win over Kitchee SC in their one-legged Round of 16 tie in Hong Kong on Wednesday, 25 May.

A day after Mohun Bagan bowed out of the tournament with a 1-0 home loss at the hands of Singapore's Tampines Rovers, Bengaluru FC ensured an Indian presence in the last-8 of the tournament with the thrilling away win.

The recently-crowned I-League champions suffered an early setback in the game when Rufino scored for Kitchee in the 7th minute. However, after surviving an early barrage of attacks, the Blues came back into the game and started piling the pressure on the hosts.

In the half-hour mark, Bengaluru midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh was brought down inside the Kitchee box, and skipper Sunil Chhetri stepped up to level up the scores.

Two minutes later, Chhetri volleyed from close range to give his side a 2-1 lead.

In the 42nd minute, Kitchee, however, equalised through forward Jorge to go into the break with the scores even.

Daniel Lalhlimpuia then pounced on a defensive error in the Kitchee backline, six minutes into the second half, to put Bengaluru 3-2 ahead.

The Indian champions held on to their lead for the rest of the game to ensure a famous win, and a place in the quarters.