Calcutta: Antonio Dovale scored Bengaluru FC (BFC)'s first ever hat-trick in Asian competition (12th, 35th and 48th) as the Blues ran roughshod over Maldivian side TC Sports Club, beating them 5-0 (7-2 on aggregate) and booking a place in the AFC Cup group stages at the Kanteerava Stadium, in Bangalore, on Tuesday.

Erik Paartalu marked the occasion with a left-footed volley (36th) from 40 yards and Rahul Bheke added a fifth (90th) late in the game in what was also BFC's biggest ever win the AFC Cup. BFC 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.