AFC Cup: Bengaluru FC's group stage tie against I-League champions Aizawl FC postponed

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC's AFC Cup group stage match against Aizawl FC slated for 7 March has been postponed by a month due to a busy schedule.

"The Blues' 2018 @AFCCup Group Stage clash against @AizawlFC has been rescheduled to take place on April 5th, while the home clash against Abahani Dhaka will go on, as per schedule, on March 14th," said Bengaluru FC in a tweet.

The Blues’ 2018 @AFCCup Group Stage clash against @AizawlFC has been rescheduled to take place on April 5th, while the home clash against Abahani Dhaka will go on, as per schedule, on March 14th. #WeAreBFC 🔵

— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) March 4, 2018

Aizawl FC also tweeted the same. "AFC Cup 2018 match between Aizawal FC vs Bengaluru FC scheduled on 7 March has been officially postponed to 5 April," said Aizawl FC in the tweet.

Confirmed! Our match against @bengalurufc has been postponed pic.twitter.com/ZMIC6QY97q — Aizawl Football Club (@AizawlFC) March 4, 2018

Guwahati's Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium was to host the match on 7 March.

The postponement of AFC Cup group stage match has given a breathing space for Bengaluru as they are scheduled to play their ISL semifinal match in the second week of March, a club spokesperson said.

Debutants Bengaluru have been in fine form and became the first team to qualify for ISL semifinals this season by ending up as table-toppers with 40 points from 18 matches.

Apart from their superlative show in the ISL, Bengaluru have qualified for the AFC Cup group stage by defeating Transport United 3-0 and Maldives' TC Sports Club 8-2 on aggregate.

Much of the credit will go to head coach Albert Roca, who has fielded all his players in both competitions, that has given them exposure to quality football, both at international and domestic levels.

The postponement of the match also will give Aizawl FC time to focus on their Super Cup matches.