Kolkata: Like in the Indian Super League (ISL) last term or the Asian Champions Organization 2 this period, Mohun Bagan Super Giant started with a stutter. The ISL campaign, where Mohun Bagan began with one win from three suits, was fixed by head instructor Jose Molina reorganizing the line-up. Returning on rails in Asia following Tuesday’s 0- 1 defeat to Ahal FK might require something comparable.
Mohun Bagan’s next two matches are away, to Iran’s Sepahan, who finished second in the league in 2024 – 25, and Jordan Pro Organization champs Al Hussein. This looks like a hill to climb.
The shot from Enver Annayev– he had played for Turkmenistan’s Arkadag when they beat East Bengal in the Difficulty League– that arrowed right into the far post in the 83 rd minute was the evening’s only objective yet by then the visiting team had actually got Mohun Bagan’s number.
Magtymberdi Berenov, whom Annayev changed, had actually come close before that. His shot in the 31 st minute, following a cool exchange of passes with Elman Tagayev and Hakmuhammet Bashimov, grazed the upright. When Berenov went once more in the 57 th min, Vishal Kaith flew to his right to stay out the initiative from variety.
At the pre-match media meeting, Ahal FK’s instructor Eziz Annamuhammedov had said he was positive that the home group would certainly need to watch out for a variety of their players. His team, without any foreign player but with a host of nationwide team regulars, strolled the talk silencing the 41, 003 who had brought up at Salt Lake arena which, after the Durand Cup defeat to East Bengal, is not a citadel any longer for the ISL dual winners.
The loss to East Bengal was additionally the last match Mohun Bagan had actually played. Their challengers had players who did duty in the CAFA Nations Mug and have actually become part of the Yokary Liga, Turkmenistan’s organization which had actually started in March. Molina was asked on Monday whether that would certainly make a distinction. “We’ll see,” he had actually claimed.
Ahal finished with even more belongings (57 %), more shots (12 and a lot more shots on target (5 They played 506 passes to Mohun Bagan’s 377 Ahal managed the suit better, disrupted Mohun Bagan’s momentum, had done their study on Bagan– evidence of which was just how best wingback Bashimov bound Liston Colaco– and constantly had an added player in midfield. For all their striking firepower teeming with former World Cup gamers from Australia, Mohun Bagan look a foreign main defensive midfielder brief.
Mohun Bagan looked much better moving forward when Molina switched over from 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 to 4 – 4 – 2 with Jamie Maclaren and Anirudh Thapa beginning in the 58 th min. Their best chance was available in the 69 th min when Thapa unlocked the midfield and found Jason Cummings, who squared to Maclaren. Goalkeeper Berdiyev Kakageldi whiskeyed the scoring possibility by obtaining big on the Australian that has the most goals in A-League history. That was Mohun Bagan’s only shot on target.
Two minutes earlier, Cummings had flashed after Maclaren succeeded to hook one back. In the 80 th minute, Sahal Abdul Samad cushioned a crossfield ball from Robson Robinho however dragged the shot vast.
Like in the inter-zonal last of AFC Cup in 2021, which ATK Mohun Bagan had actually shed 0- 6 to FC Nasaf, Bagan looked rusty. Cummings swelling one in the initial half, Lalengmawia Ralte not looking comfortable in ownership, Kaith’s pass kicked to touch and Colaco’s failure to deliver crosses that might beat the very first protector were all evidence of an absence of video game time.
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