Bengaluru: India's JSW Bengaluru aim to reach the Inter-Zone final for the third year running when they host Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr in the first leg of the 2018 AFC Cup Inter-Zone play-off semi-final on Wednesday.

The two sides have appeared in every edition of the AFC Cup since 2015, but lock horns for the first time in their history.

Altyn Asyr exited the competition at the preliminary round in their maiden campaign and have improved with every passing season ever since, while Bengaluru have established themselves as perennial title challengers, reaching the final in 2016 and going within one game of it last year.

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JSW Bengaluru

Bengaluru cruised to the top of Group E, winning five of their six matches and only losing away to Maldives' New Radiant on Matchday 4.

A perfect record in the first half of the group was followed by Bengaluru's only defeat of the tournament so far in Male as they were outperformed by New Radiant, who emerged 2-0 winners.

Coach Alberto Roca quickly steadied the ship, leading Bengaluru to comprehensive 5-0 and 4-0 victories over Aizawl and Dhaka Abahani Limited in the last two matchdays respectively.

Roca then announced his departure from the club at the end of the group stage, with assistant Carles Caudrat taking over as the new boss.

Despite starting just half of Bengaluru's six matches in the competition, Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri registered two goals and six assists, contributing to more goals than any of his teammates.

Chhetri has recently put pen to paper, signing a contract extension that will keep him at Bengaluru until 2021, and remains an integral part of coach Caudrat's side, even at the age of 34.

Altyn Asyr

Altyn Asyr pipped last year's runners-up Istiklol to the qualification spot from Group D, which also featured fellow Turkmen side Ahal FC and Kyrgyz Republic's Alay Osh.

Progressing past the group stage at the fourth time of asking was not simple, as Altyn Asyr were made to wait until added time on Matchday Six to secure a famous 3-2 win over Istiklol to reach their first ever AFC Cup Inter-Zone semi-final.

Murat Yakshiyev is the man Altyn Asyr turn to when in need of inspiration, and the 26-year-old has certainly delivered in the AFC Cup with five goals and three assists.

Having contested every minute of the AFC Cup campaign, Yakshiyev contributed to a goal every 67 minutes and has created six more scoring chances.

Ones To Watch:

JSW Bengaluru vs Altyn Asyr

Venue: Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru

Kick-off: August 22, 20:00 UTC+5:30