A stunning left-footed strike by Eugeneson Lyngdoh earned Bengaluru FC a 1-1 draw and a crucial away goal in their AFC Cup first leg semi-final match against defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim, in Johor Bahru, on Wednesday.
Lyngdoh fired in a left-footed screamer from well outside the box to the left corner of the Johor net in the 57th minute after Jorge Pereyra Diaz had put the home side ahead in the 53rd minute at the Tan Sri Dato' Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium.
Wednesday's draw would give an advantage to the I-League champions in their quest for a historic final appearance in the AFC Cup, the continent's second tier club competition. Bengaluru play their second leg of the semi-finals on October 19 at home at Kanteerava Stadium.
No Indian club had ever made it to the final of the AFC Cup. Bengaluru FC is only the third Indian club to have made it to the semis of the AFC Cup, after Dempo (2008) and East Bengal (2013).
Wednesday's match was the third time these two sides met in this edition of the tournament. Bengaluru and Johor were clubbed together in the group stage and the Malaysian giants had won both the home and away group matches.
Alberto Roca, who was in charge of Bengaluru for only the third match, went for a high-pressing game in the first session and his charges had better possession of the initial period of the first half though without having a clear look at the opposition goal.
Bengaluru goalkeeper Arminder Singh kept the visitors in contention with a point-blank save to keep out a Martin Lucero header in the 27th minute.
