A second-half goal glut saw Bengaluru FC mark the start of Marco Pezzaiuoli's reign at the club with a convincing 5-0 win over Nepalese side Tribhuvan Army FC in their 2021 AFC Cup Preliminary Stage Two clash here at the GMC Stadium on Wednesday. Goals from Rahul Bheke (2), Cleiton Silva (2) and Sunil Chhetri put a seal on the tie and handed the Blues passage into the playoff stages of the continental competition.
Gabonese defender Yrondu Musavu-King made his Bengaluru debut, partnering Juanan Gonzalez at the back. The Blues made a strong start to the game, controlling possession and being patient in their search for an opening. Ashique Kuruniyan and Rahul Bheke provided width on the flanks, as Bengaluru looked to stretch the visitors and find gaps in their defence.
Tribhuvan Army made their first foray into the Blues' box in the 13th minute, which ended with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu making a regulation save from what was a speculative effort from the edge of the area. Only two minutes later, Tribhuvan skipper Nawayug Shrestha raced free down the left flank but Bheke's well-timed sliding tackle stopped him in his tracks.
The Blues' best chance of the first period fell to skipper Sunil Chhetri, but his effort from within the box parried away by TAFC custodian Biwash Chaudhary.
The Blues came out all guns blazing in the second period, and their persistence was rewarded just six minutes after the break, when Rahul Bheke nodded home a corner from Cleiton Silva to put Bengaluru 1-0 up. Only moments later, a scramble in the box saw the ball fall to Chhetri, who made no mistake to slot past Biwash to double the Blues' advantage.
The Blues then added two more in quick succession, with Silva's stamp on both. Chhetri flicked the ball to the Brazilian, who shrugged off his marker, rounded the 'keeper and then slotted home into an empty net to make it 3-0 on the night. Less than a minute later, Udanta managed to wriggle free of three players down the right flank and found Bheke, whose cross into the area brought down by Cleiton and finished on the turn past a hapless Biwash in the TAFC goal.
