Mohun Bagan Supergiants managed to walk with a win but Odisha FC did not have the same fate as they lost to their Bangladeshi counterparts in the AFC Cup. (Image: X)
Mohun Bagan Supergiants managed to secure a victory while Odisha FC were set back with a disappointing loss to Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh.
In the Group D AFC Cup 2023/24 encounter, Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured a 2-1 victory over Maziya Sports & Recreation from the Maldives, thanks to a double from Jason Cummings, including a late winner.
The game unfolded at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium and proved to be a closely fought affair. Mohun Bagan now leads Group D with two wins, while Maziya and Bashundhara Kings both sit on three points.
Mohun Bagan had their first chance in the 13th minute when Brendan Hamill’s header was saved by Maziya’s Hussain Shareef. Ten minutes later, Maziya’s Hamza Mohamed narrowly missed a shot across the face of Mohun Bagan’s goal.
In the 28th minute, Mohun Bagan broke the deadlock as Hugo Boumous set up Jason Cummings at the edge of the box, and the Australian forward scored with a powerful left-footed shot.
Maziya responded with a Tomoki Wada volley in the 35th minute, but Hamill blocked it, and goalkeeper Vishal Kaith made the save.
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In the 41st minute, Cummings attempted a clever penalty pass to Dimitrios Petratos, but Sebastijan Antic read it well.
Maziya equalized just before half-time as Wada’s powerful shot proved too much for Kaith to handle.
The second half saw Maziya’s Shareef making crucial saves to deny Mohun Bagan. In the 79th minute, Shareef saved Manvir Singh’s long-range effort and stopped Sahal Abdul Samad in a one-on-one situation.
In the dying moments, Shareef was finally beaten as Sahal’s pass found Cummings, who made up for his earlier penalty miss with a decisive strike between the keeper’s legs to secure the late win for Mohun Bagan.
This closely contested match showcased the determination of both teams, with Mohun Bagan emerging as the victor in the end.
In the game between Odisha and Bashundhara, spectators witnessed a competitive encounter marked by several noteworthy moments.
Bashundhara’s Brazilian striker, Dori, started the game with a low drive in the fifth minute. However, Odisha took the lead in the 19th minute when Laldinliana Renthlei found Diego Mauricio, who scored with a first-time effort.
Bashundhara fought back, with Miguel Figueira scoring a header in the 32nd minute after an assist from Robinho.
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In the second half, Dori completed his brace in the 54th minute, extending Bashundhara’s lead to 3-1. Odisha’s Roy Krishna attempted to revive his team but was denied in the 53rd minute.
Lalrinzuala, an Odisha substitute, reduced the deficit to 3-2 in the 66th minute. Both teams had opportunities, but the score remained unchanged.
Despite Boburbek Yuldashev hitting the crossbar in the 75th minute, the match concluded with a 3-2 victory for Bashundhara.
Looking ahead, Bashundhara is scheduled to face Mohun Bagan Super Giant in Kolkata on October 24th, while Odisha will host Maziya Sports & Recreation from the Maldives in Bhubaneswar on the same day. The match showcased the unpredictable nature of football, providing fans with an exciting contest.
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