ATK Mohun Bagan’s attacking frailties have been badly uncovered as they undergo a 1-3 defeat to Kuala Lumpur City FC within the inter-zone semifinal match of the AFC Cup right here on Wednesday.
KL City FC’s Brazilian captain Paulo Josue struck as soon as (sixtieth) and arrange one other for substitute Fakrul Aiman (90+3) with an excellent free-kick. Colombian ahead Romel Morales got here off the bench to hit the ultimate nail in Mohun Bagan’s coffin (90+6) on the Salt Lake Stadium right here. Mohun Bagan equalised within the ninetieth minute by way of substitute Fardin Ali Molla however they later crumbled in entrance of house supporters.
This was Mohun Bagan’s second successive elimination from the AFC Cup on the Inter-Zone semifinal stage. In 2021, they’d endured a 0-6 humiliation towards FC Nasaf. KL City FC will now face Uzbekistan’s PFC Sogdiana within the inter-zone play-off ultimate.
🗣 “Let’s go to Uzbekistan!”
🇲🇾 KL City boys are able to tackle PFC Sogdiana after popping out victorious in Kolkata! #AFCCup2022 pic.twitter.com/CO6f5j7mq0
— #AFCCup2022 (@AFCCup) September 7, 2022
It was a actuality examine for ATK Mohun Bagan coach Juan Ferrando forward of the Indian Super League because the Spaniard has did not put collectively offensive and defensive unit after the departure of Roy Krishna, David Williams, Sandesh Jhingan and Tiri.
Just a number of days in the past, Mohun Bagan made a shock group stage exit from the Durand Cup after dropping to I-League facet Rajasthan United FC.
The 1-3 scoreline in favour of the Malaysian outfit, nonetheless, didn’t precisely painting the Mariners’ domination within the first-half, particularly within the first quarter-hour after they had a lion’s share of possession. But, they missed a flurry of possibilities with the putting lineup of Manvir Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan and Liston Colaco exhibiting little coordination upfront, underlining the shortage of firepower within the absence of Roy Krishna and David Williams. In the seventeenth minute, Colaco went previous a defender from the left after getting a cross from Kauko, however he slammed the ball straight to Azri Ghani.
Colaco continued his plight in entrance of the opposition objective as he wasted alternatives within the thirty sixth and forty second minutes.
Just when the house group’s distress continued, Josue’s screaming left-footer towards the run of play put the Kuala Lumpur facet forward on the hour-mark, taking his objective rely to a few. It was an ideal tactical show by their Croatian gaffer who now has an all-win file in India, having received towards Bengaluru FC and East Bengal as Johor Darul Ta’zim coach beforehand.
It appeared all however over for Mohun Bagan however the final six minutes’ riveting motion raised some hopes earlier than their protection crumbled to items in entrance of an excited 18,000-odd followers.
Mohun Bagan followers acquired a glimmer of hope within the dying minutes of regulation time when Bengal’s Santosh Trophy hero Molla (ninetieth) brilliantly scored from a rebound after being arrange by Kauko. But what adopted was a harakiri by the Brendan Hamill-spearheaded defence that allow in two targets within the area of two minutes of second-half stoppage time. Having put his group forward, the Brazilian Josue despatched an ideal 35-yard free-kick as Fakrul made it 2-1 with a tasty header from a goalmouth melee.
The killer blow got here within the ultimate minute’s motion as Morales confirmed immense composure and fired in from the near-post as Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Kaith had no probability.
