Bengaluru: Antonio Dovale scored Bengaluru FC’s first ever hat-trick in Asian competition (in the 12th, 35th and 48th minutes) as the Blues ran roughshod over Maldivian side TC Sports Club, beating them 5-0 (8-2 on aggregate) at the Kanteerava Stadium here on Tuesday to book a place in the AFC Cup Group stages
Erik Paartalu marked the occasion with an outrageous left-footed volley (36th minute) from 40 yards out and Rahul Bheke added a fifth (90th minute) late in the game in what was also the Blues’ biggest ever win the AFC Cup.
The Blues join I-League side Aizawl FC, Maldives’ New Radiant SC and Abahani Dhaka from Bangladesh in Group E of the continental competition, which commences on March 7 with an away clash against the reigning Indian champions.
