Match facts: Bengaluru FC v Transport United, AFC Cup Playoff, preliminary round (aggregate 0-0)
Where: Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
When: Tuesday, January 30, 8 pm IST
Big Picture
Albert Roca fielded a young side in the 0-0 first-leg draw in Thimpu, handing a first-team debut to BFC Academy graduate Prashanth Kaling at right-back. Even as he plans to stick to his youth-first policy on Tuesday, the hosts will start as favourites against the Bhutanese champions. Roca insisted that while the immediate goal is reaching the next round of preliminaries, where the winner will face either TC Sports of Maldives or Bangladeshi club Saif Sporting, he also wants these games to make sure his squad stays in rhythm while competing in the Indian Super League (ISL) alongside.
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Transport United come into this game with no pretensions of their underdog status -- head coach Ngawang Dhendup revealed that their only foreign player, Nigerian striker Eze Collins, could only play the last 15 minutes of the first leg because he had just "arrived in Thimpu on matchday" and was rushed from the airport. Dhendup's team romped home to the Bhutan national title in 2017, winning nine of their 10 matches, but the coach said football has been "amateur till now" and only now stepping into a "semi-professional" setup.
They had shown no stage fright on their AFC Cup debut in Thimpu, playing a compact game in the first half in particular. They were stretched further in the second half when BFC threw more experienced players like Thongkhosiem Haokip into attack, but rallied around a good performance by captain and goalkeeper Hari Gurung to emerge unscathed. An early goal for Transport United could put BFC under pressure; they would then need two goals to advance to the next round.
In the spotlight
Roca could bring back some big guns in the outfield in a must-win game -- Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh and Harmanjot Khabra are all registered in the 30 but didn't play a minute in Bhutan - though he is likely to stick with Lalthuammawia Ralte in goal just like in Thimpu. Considered the reserve to Gurpreet Sandhu even in the ISL, Ralte has been part of BFC since 2015, the first year they competed in the AFC Cup, and was competent on set pieces in Thimpu.
Tall, strong and composed on the ball, Sonam Tobgay looked like Transport United's best player in the first leg, operating as a withdrawn striker behind Dawa Tshering and Kezang Wangdi for most part. Tobgay has also played World Cricket League matches and ACC games for the national cricket team and is a relatively new entrant into the football setup. If Transport United are to cause ripples in the BFC backline, Tobgay might be their best bet to provide one.
Form guide
Bengaluru FC WDWLW
Transport United DWWWW
Quotes
"It's a well-organised team with a clear system. They don't take too many risks. They play long balls and try to defend and play on the counters. We know that a 1-1 or 2-2 draw is [good] for them. We have to be ready to be aggressive in defensive transition."
- BFC coach Albert Roca analyses the tactical setup of Transport United.
"When we enter the field, we always believe we are the best team. Tomorrow they [BFC] will put some key players and we will be very happy to play against them. We will learn so much from them, [considering] their exposure and talent. In the end, even if we lose, we will be winning."
- Transport United winger Kencho Tobgay believes taking Bengaluru to the brink in itself would be an achievement for his team.