AFC Cup: Three key battles to watch out for Mohun Bagan vs Maziya tie

Mohun Bagan defeated Maziya in the previous AFC Cup clash.

Mohun Bagan will shift their focus from Indian Super League and will clash agaist Maziya Sports & Recreation Club in the upcoming AFC Cup game on 2nd of October at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata. In the last two encounters of the AFC Cup, Maziya went down both times against the heavy-weight Mohun Bagan.

Mohun Bagan have been undefeated in their previous five games, displaying unwavering perseverance and creativity in their performance. On the other side, Maziya S&RC have also triumphed in four of their previous five encounters. It will thus be fascinating to see how both the clubs anticipate to win this game and continue their winning streak.

Let's take a look at three significant key battles ahead of this AFC Cup encounter.

3. Vishal Kaith vs Vojislav Balabanovic

Vishal Kaith is expected to play a significant role for Juan Ferrando's Mohun Bagan in the upcoming match. Undoubtedly, the strikers from Maziya will try to take advantage of any opportunity that is presented to them in the attacking third. Therefore, even though MBSG's defense will make every attempt to play at their maximum level, Vishal's abilities will certainly be put to test against a team that is now unbeaten for the previous five games and in top form. The goalie will definitely attempt to add another clean-sheet under his name in this forthcoming continental clash.

Vojislav Balabanovic, a 27-year-old forward, has the potential to be a big threat for the Mohun Bagan side. Despite his minimal playing time, he has the capacity to outperform any defensive line on any occasion. Maziya signed Balabanovic as a new striker this season. The Serbian has started scoring goals for his new team and is well-known for doing so. As a result, it will be intriguing to witness how Balabanovic advances to score goals and assesses Vishal Kaith's abilities under the post.

2. Subhasish Bose vs Hamza Mohamed

One of the successful defenders who has consistently worn the Mohun Bagan shirt over the past several seasons is Subhasish Bose. The captain has already made 10 appearances this season and has been the side's most important defender.

With the Mariners, Subhasish won the Indian Super League and Durand Cup and has had the highest rate of successful tackles and interceptions over the past few seasons. So, it will be exciting to watch when he takes the field against a creative figure like Hamza Mohamed, who has been with Maziya since the last eight seasons.

Since joining Maziya eight seasons ago, Hamza has developed and improved. He has had a significant influence on the midfield. It would be crucial for players like Bose to keep an eye on this versatile player who can make significant differences anytime throughout the match.

1. Dimitri Petratos vs Hassan Shifaz

Dimi Petratos, as a key component of the MBSG's forward line, will undoubtedly play a crucial part in the forthcoming encounter. The striker has demonstrated his extraordinary abilities by scoring several vital goals in numerous vital matches. Petratos' lone goal helped Mohun Bagan win the Durand Cup over East Bengal a month ago. As a result, fans will be waiting to see how Petratos performs against Maziya, and whether he maintains his goal-scoring streak or gets denied by defenders like Hassan Shifaz.

Hassan Shifaz has a tough challenge to face. He already has 14 appearances for Maziya with a total of 694' mintues of play time. The talented defender has also proven useful in the midfield in addition to displaying noteworthy ability in the backline. He will have to be at his best to stop a clever attacker like Dimi Petratos from finding the back of the net.