AFC Cup: Mohun Bagan, Bashundhara Kings share spoils

Mohun Bagan and Bashundhara Kings are placed on first and second positions respectively, in their AFC Cup group.

Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh came back twice to secure a hard-fought 2-2 draw with India’s Mohun Bagan Super Giant of India in Group D of the AFC Cup 2023/24 tie on Tuesday. 

The result meant Mohun Bagan have a three-point lead at the halfway stage of the tournament with Bashundhara second, one point ahead of India's Odisha FC.

Mohun Bagan started the brighter of the two sides with Sahal Abdul Samad flashing his shot from just outside the box off target following Dimitri Petratos’ set up in the 15th minute before Brendan Hamill saw his effort from inside the box in the 27th minute saved by Bashundhara keeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon.

Mohun Bagan’s constant pressure finally paid off just before the half hour mark with Hugo Boumous supplying a cross which Jason Cummings cut back for Petratos to slot home from inside a crowded six-yard-box.

Bashundhara responded in the 33rd minute through Dori, who timed his run well to receive Robinho’s through ball before surging into the area and slipping the ball past Mohun Bagan custodian Vishal Kaith.

The goal spurred the visitors as they came close to doubling the lead a minute later with Boumous finding space above the six-yard-box only to see his curled effort denied by the crossbar.

Mohun Bagan tried to force their way through in the final minutes of the half but Glen Martins, Miguel Figueira and Asish Rai all wasted their efforts.

Both teams upped the tempo after the restart with Cummings setting up Colaço, only for the forward to be flagged offside, while at the other end, Dori almost broke the deadlock in the 48th minute when he hit the bar from inside the area.

Mohun Bagan reclaimed the lead in the 54th minute through Rai, who was played through by Petratos’s well-timed pass following a neat build-up.

Didier Brossou and Rakib Hossain both came close to equalising for Bashundhara but the Bangladesh side’s perseverance was rewarded when Robinho drew a foul inside the six-yard-box 10 minutes later, and then stepping up to slot home.

The two teams will meet again on November 7 with Bashundhara hosting Mohun Bagan at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.