Bengaluru: Goalkeeper Nikola Stosic has claimed FC Istiklol knew they would progress to their second AFC Cup final in three attempts by the half-time interval in the second leg of the Inter-Zone semi-final with JSW Bengaluru at Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday.
The Tajikistan champions went into the game a goal to the good after posting a 1-0 victory in the first leg in Dushanbe last month, and within four minutes of the return fixture had scored a valuable away goal thanks to Nuriddin Davronov’s penalty.
The hosts levelled through Rahul Bheke but then had Harmanjot Singh sent off before the break to leave the 2015 runners-up sitting pretty with 45 minutes remaining.
Dmitri Barkov’s goal on 56 minutes then put Istiklol 2-1 up before the game ended 2-2 – after Sunil Chhetri’s penalty – as the visitors booked a date with holders Air Force Club of Iraq in November’s final following a 3-2 aggregate win.
“We scored the first goal tonight and I think the early goal really helped us a lot for the rest of the game,” said Serbian Stosic.
“Bengaluru then got the red card so this was obviously a big advantage for us. After that, we already knew in the second half that we would be able to make it to the final.”
Istiklol’s debut appearance in the competition came in 2015 and the Dushanbe club announced their arrival in style by making the final at the first attempt.
But the tournament ended in heartbreak as Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim lifted their first continental title after running out 1-0 winners in the final in the Tajik capital.
Following a group stage exit last year, Istiklol returned in fine fashion for the 2017 edition and had not been beaten in nine games prior to Wednesday’s encounter.
With Bengaluru having won all four of their home matches, something had to give in southern India in the clash between the competition’s last two runners-up, and it was the Central Asian side who came out on top following a gripping game.
“We were in the final in 2015 but unfortunately we were not able to win it,” added Stosic.
“This year we hope we can do it and we want to take the title, so we’ll give 100% to win the competition.
“I don’t want to make a prediction on whether we will win the final yet. We will have to see how the game goes, but I hope that we can do it.”
Photos: FC Istiklol & JSW Bengaluru
Source: the-afc.com