KATHMANDU: The Tribhuvan Army Football Club faced a humiliating 5-0 defeat at the hands of Bengaluru FC in the AFC Cup Qualifying match at the GMX Athletic Stadium in Goa on Wednesday.

After a goalless first half, the Indian team netted five goals in the space of 15 minutes to make it the third round of the Qualifying tournament.

The home team opened the scoring through Rahul Bheke in the 51st minute, while skipper Sunil Chhetri doubled the lead a minute later. Cleiton Silva made it 3-0 in the 61st before the TAFC conceded two goals in the 65th minute when Bheke and Silva scored their second individual goals.

The TAFC had advanced to the second round with a 5-1 victory over Sri Lanka Police Sporting Club at the Dasharath Stadium on April 7.

The Martyrs Memorial A Division League runners-up, TAFC earned the chance to participate in the tournament after champions Machhindra FC failed to acquire Club License from the Asian Football Confederation. A version of this article appears in the print on April 15, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.