Mohun Bagan Super Giant come from behind against Abahani Dhaka to qualify for AFC Cup group stage

Soumo Ghosh
AIFF Communication Team

KOLKATA: A teeming Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan burst with joy at the end of a night that had started in a disastrous way, as the Mariners came back to beat Abahani Dhaka 3-1 in the 2023-24 AFC Cup Playoffs, thereby making it all possible. qualifying for the group stage.

The Kolkata giants seem to be a step behind their Bangladeshi opponents, who are always looking to attack speed in the early game. Abahani Dhaka was awarded the opening goal in the 17th minute^{lame pants} minutes when Mohun Bagan SG goalkeeper Vishal Kaith fumbled a seemingly aimless cross and was punished by Cornelius Stewart, who was easily the most exciting player on the pitch in the opening minutes.

Green and the Maroons showed tremendous bravery and looked like a completely different team right after conceding as they began to string together some sensible attacks of their own. Juan Ferrando’s team equalized in the 37th minute^{lame pants} minutes after Liston Colaco was fouled inside the box as he tried to save Hugo Boumous’s shot. Australian signing Jason Cummings scored the club’s second goal with a well-positioned penalty and leveled the score.

The Mariners didn’t look back and were in full control for the rest of the game, starting the second half with quick and precise passes through the midfield. Cummings played Boumous for 58^{lame pants} Minutes ago, the ball went straight into the goal and Abahani Dhaka’s defender Milad Soleimani had an own goal in an attempt to save.

Less than two minutes later, Mohun Bagan Super Giant doubled the lead thanks to a quick corner kick that put Colaco and Boumous into a neat one-two before the Goan winger squeezed the ball from the edge of the box. to a simple finish for Albanian striker Armando Sadiku.

Substitutes Manvir Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan and Kiyan Nasiri came close to extending the lead but the match ended 3-1 in favor of the Mariners.

Tuesday’s comeback win sees Mohun Bagan Super Giant qualify for the AFC Cup 2023-24 group stage alongside Odisha FC, Bashundhara Kings and Maziya S&RC in the south region group.