The preliminary rounds of the AFC Cup 2018 is underway and let's take a look at what transpired in the tournament this week:
1) South Zone Preliminary Round 2nd Leg: Bengaluru FC 3-0 Transport United (Aggr: 3-0):
India's Bengaluru FC progressed to the South Zone Playoffs after a 3-0 win over Bhutan's Transport United on Tuesday. After a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Bhutan, Bengaluru FC turned on the charm at home despite playing a second-string side. Boithang Haokip gave the Blues the lead with a header in the 27th minute before Daniel Lalhlimpuia doubled their lead in the 54th minute.
Thongkhosiem Haokip scored Bengaluru's third in the 62nd minute and set up a playoff against Maldives' TC Sports Club on February 13 and 20.
2) South Zone Preliminary Round 2nd Leg: TC Sports Club 3-1 Saif Sporting Club (Aggr: 4-1):
Maldives' TC Sports Club have advanced to the South Zone playoffs after a dominating Bangladesh's Saif Sporting Club at home to win 3-1 on the night (4-1 on aggregate). They had the advantage after a 1-0 win in the first leg and went on to press home the same in the second leg.
Vlasichev Anatoli had put TC Sports Club ahead in the first half before the Bangladeshi side equalised through Kingsley Chigozie. But Vlasichev Anatoli scored two more goals late on to seal the win for his side.
3) Central Zone Preliminary Round 2nd Leg: FC Ahal 2-2 FC Dordoi (Aggr: 5-3):
Turkmenistan's FC Ahal advanced to the Central Zone playoffs after a 2-2 draw at home to FC Dordoi. It helped that they had won the first leg in Uzbekistan 3-1 and were in no danger of being eliminated.
Ahal took the lead in the 39th minute through Didar Durdyyev's penalty but were pegged back by two goals from Amir Gurbani who raised hopes of a comeback by Dordoi. But Suleyman Muhadow scored late on to seal the result. Ahal advance to a two-leg play-off against Tajikistan's FC Khujand on February 13 and 20.
