Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Air Force Club) rode on Hammadi Ahmed's 71st minute strike to beat Bengaluru FC 1-0 and lift the AFC Cup trophy at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium (Qatar SC Stadium), Doha on Saturday. It was a historic night for both clubs as they made it to the final of Asia's second-most prestigious continental competition for the first-time.
However, it was the Iraqi side that were able to take that next step as they broke the hearts of the I-League champions after a gritty affair.
Albert Roca was forced to make a change as Lalthuamawia Ralte replaced the suspended Amrinder Singh in goal. Cameron Watson was deployed just in front of the two centre-backs in order to intercept passes. The former Barcelona assistant opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation for the contest.
Humam Tareq, nursing an injury, was risked and shunted into the starting eleven for Bashim Qasim’s team. They lined-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Tareq, Emad Majeed and Amjed Radhi shouldering the attacking responsibilities with Hammadi Ahmed leading the line.
After a period of sustained possession, the Iraqi team almost carved open the Bengaluru defense. Sameh Saeed played it for Hammadi who found Majeed in space on the left. Majeed got into one-on-one situation with Ralte who did well to come out and collect.
Bengaluru first venture into the opposition half came only in the 13th minute when Rino Anto got beyond Ali Fadhil on the right and sent in a cross which was aimed towards Sunil Chhetri at the far post but Sameh Saeed headed it away in time.
Midway through the first half, Ralte’s pass for Chhetri saw the latter spot Eugeneson’s run behind the defense but Ali Fadhil was alert to clear in time.
The Falcons were forced into making a substitution as the coach’s gamble on Tareq flopped with the winger being unable to continue. In came Osama Mohammed who slotted into the number ten role with Emad moving to the right.
Ahmed Kadhim’s free-kick saw Hammadi head it wide. A few minutes later, the AFC Cup’s top scorer played a delightful through-ball for Radhi, who beat the offside trap, but his ball across of the face of goal for Emad and Sameh Saaed saw Ralte, who looked nervous throughout, intercept.
There was way too much gap between the defense and midfield of the Iraqi team and coach Qasim was seen urging his midfielders to drop back to pick the ball instead of their defenders thumping it aimlessly.
Five minutes after the break, the first chance of the half fell for the Iraqi club. Saeed crossed from the right for Radhi, who evaded Anto only to see his effort miss the target.
Radhi once again got involved in the thick of action as he played Saaed on the right who pulled it back for Hammadi whose shot goes wide.
At the other end, Chhetri trapped a ball from Juanan and made his way past Saaed to play it for the onrushing Eugeneson. The attacking midfielder’s left footed strike was blocked and Alvaro’s follow-up effort too didn’t yield any joy.
The best chance came from a set-piece as Ali Fadhil’s corner-kick was met by Natiq but Ralte made a fantastic save.
Chhetri was almost through on goal as he evaded a sliding challenge by Natiq but he wasted the opportunity but sending his shot into the stands.
Roca made a double substitution by taking off Nishu and Alwyn George, two players who were far from their best, and introduced Seminlen Doungel and Udanta Singh, who had the pace to stretch the Iraqi defense. The Spaniard opted for a 3-5-2 formation with Watson dropping into defense and Anto and Udanta being the two wing-backs.
In a move straight from the training ground, Watson’s cross found Chhetri whose first time shot was blocked by Almedani.
However, the breakthrough came in the 71st minute. Kadhim played it for Radhi who was in space own the left. He made his way into the box and evaded Alvaro and Johnson with ease. Ralte came off his line to make himself big but Radhi centered it for Hammadi who had the simple task of slotting the ball into an empty net.
They could have doubled their lead soon after, when Hammadi played it for Emad who spotted the run of Radhi who was through on goal but was found to be in an offside position.
In the 76th minute, Osama and Hammadi combined to find Radhi. The former Iraqi Premier League top-scorer looked to curl one into the top corner but his effort missed by a few inches.
Bengaluru were struggling to get the ball out of their half and when they did, the ball was literally gifted to the opposition.
Roca brought in Salam Ranjan in place of Roca as the former slotted into the centre-back position with Watson now back in the midfield.
Bengaluru had an opportunity to equalise after they won a free-kick after Natiq brought down Udanta. Watson’s delivery was aimed for Vineeth at the far post but the former Viva Kerala striker miscued his effort.
Johnson joined the forwards in injury time and went down under no challenge whatsoever inside the box.
Bengaluru FC paid the price for not capitalising on the chances that came their way and the switch in system after the hour mark turned the tide in favour of the Iraqi team.
The Blues can be proud of their efforts but fell short in the end against an efficient Iraqi side.
