Maziya Sports & Recreation Club have confirmed a place in the 2020 AFC Cup after a thrilling encounter in the Sree Kanteerva Stadium. Bengaluru FC refused to give up with out a fight and took Maziya all the way to penalties. However the Green-boys held their nerves as they beat the blues on penalties to secure spot in the AFC Cup group E where Basandhura Kings, TC Sports and Chennai City await them. 

The first half of the game was a quiet one with Bengaluru enjoying large portions of the possession but without any success as they failed to threaten Azizi’s goals. However in the Second half the game opened up and both side started creating chances.

Bengaluru FC took advantage and fired home to draw first blood early in the second half when Suresh Wangjam beats a Maziya player and cuts his cross back to Brown who smashed the ball into the back of the net.

However Bengaluru were unable to hold onto the lead and Ibrahim Mahudhee Hassan converted in the 74th minute from a cross to make it all square. Maziya' leveler lasted only six minutes as substitute Sunil Chhetri slotted home after NIlli's shot was palmed away by Azizi only to fall into Sunil's path. He slotted the ball into the far corner of the net to once again give Blues the lead. 

During the 102nd minute of additional time Stewart Cornelius beat the offside trap to run through on goal before firing the ball into the far bottom corner of the net. No chance whatsoever for Gurpreet Singh. During the last minute of play in the 120th minute of the game Maziya's Serbian defender Petar's attempted headed clearance hit his hand and Bengaluru were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Maziya area. 

Sunil chhetri slotted home into the bottom corner and to make it 4-4 on aggregate and into penalties. Erik Paartalu converted the first penalty followed by Hamza Mohamed for maziya. Sunil Chhetri and Aisam followed with success from the spot. 

Hussain Nihan stepped up for the last Penalty after Azizi denied a bengaluru player. He beat Gurpreet to find the corner of the net and send Maziya into the Group Stages of the 2020 AFC Cup.

Photo Credits - Foxsports Asia