India's Bengaluru FC lost an opportunity to make history after being grounded by Iraqi club Air Force Club by a 1-0 margin in the AFC Cup final at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium in Doha on Saturday.
Bengaluru's resilience was broken after 70 minutes when Hamadi Ahmed struck the winner. It was Hamadi's 16th goal of the AFC Cup campaign, making him the top-scorer of the tournament.
I-League champions Bengaluru became the first Indian club to qualify for the final of the AFC Cup, a second tier club competition in Asia but faltered at the final hurdle.
Despite the loss and heartbreak, Bengaluru will return home with their heads held high as they set a benchmark for Indian clubs by reaching the title round. Before them, only two clubs -- Dempo, in 2008 and East Bengal, in 2013 -- had reached the semi-finals of the AFC Cup.
Seeking to become the first Indian club to clinch an Asian title, Bengaluru FC were locked in a 0-0 stalemate at half time.
In a high-stake match between two sides making their maiden AFC Cup final, Air Force Club dominated the first 45 minutes with Bengaluru defending their citadel resolutely.
Bengaluru FC head coach Albert Roca made just one change to his team which started against Johor Darul Ta’zim in the semi-finals with Lalthuamawia Ralte replacing suspended Amrinder Singh in goal.
The first half was dominated by the Air Force Club with the Iraqi side dominating possession and Bengaluru playing in their own half. The Iraqi side though did not have any clear chance with the Bengaluru back four of John Johnson, Juanan, Rino Anto and Nishu Kumar doing an impressive job to thwart any Air Force attack.
Bengaluru, on the other hand, looked to attack on the break either from the right through Alwyn George or from the left through captain Sunil Chhetri with Eugeneson Lyngdoh playing at the hole behind C K Vineeth.
Air Force had a half chance in the 22nd minute but Humam Tareq's long ranger, after he saw Bengaluru keeper Ralte well out of his line, went wide. The Iraqi side had the best chance of the first half in the 42nd minute but Ralte came to the rescue for his side with a fine save. Hammadi Ahmad sent a lovely through ball to Amjad Radhi who beat the offside trap but his attempted square pass towards Emad Majeed in the box was thwarted by Ralte, who palmed it out for a corner.
Bengaluru had just one clear look at the Air Force goal in the first session in the 30th minute. Alwyn George sent a lovely teasing cross from the right and Lyngdoh had a clean header but it went wide.
This was the first time an Iraqi side won the AFC Cup title after Erbil Club finished runners-up twice in 2012 and 2014.
Image: Air Force Club's Hammadi Ahmed (left) runs past a Bengaluru FC player during the AFC Cup final in Doha on Saturday
Photograph: AFC Cup/Twitter
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