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

The two teams played a 2-2 draw in the first leg

Mohun Bagan Super Giant are gunning for revenge when they take on Bashundhara Kings in their AFC Cup group game on Tuesday, 7 November. The Mariners will be travelling to Bangladesh to play at the Bashundhara Kings Arena to play their first game outside India in the 2023-24 season.

This match will feel personal to both teams after their heated 2-2 draw in the last game. The Kings showcased impressive resilience to come back from adversity to get a win. Now, they need to do one better and use their fans’ energy to torment the Mariners.

This game is expected to be a feisty, aggressive affair where only the most head-strong players will come out on top. With that being said, let’s look at the three key battles that could decide the result.

3. Dori vs Hector Yuste

Bashundhara Kings’ striker Dori tormented the Mohun Bagan SG backline with his clever work in the frontline. He ended up embarrassing Hector Yuste for his goal, giving him the spin before finishing. This should be another fiery battle in the upcoming game. Dori is a really hard-working, proactive forward who loves making clever movements to slip past his defender.

But Yuste will be more aware of his tricks having read him in the last game. The Mariners defenders will probably be more aggressive with his challenges and mark him tightly in this. Dori will look to use his unpredictable style to trouble the defender again and finish off moves in the final third.

2. Sahal Abdul Samad vs Asror Gafurov

Sahal Abdul Samad has been in inspired form for Mohun Bagan SG since joining them in the summer. He’s been impressive in the AFC Cup too, but didn’t really have the most freedom in the game against Bashundhara Kings. Uzbekistan midfielder Asror Gafurov did a solid job with his defensive work, winning a lot of duels. This key midfield battle can be decisive in how the upcoming game swings.

Samad will need to be smarter with his movement and not let Gafurov rattle him. He’ll need to sneak into better positions and use his creativity to set up bigger chances, while the Bashundhara midfielder looks to unnerve him with physical challenges. Samad can be a livewire when allowed to roam freely, so Gafurov has to be sturdy in midfield to neutralize his flow.

1. Jason Cummings vs Tariq Kazi

Bangladesh defender Tariq Kazi did a pretty solid job in keeping the menacing Jason Cummings relatively quiet in the previous game. But Cummings isn’t one to have a quiet night in every game. The Australian forward has been really impressive in the AFC Cup for the Mariners, scoring four goals in five appearances so far. He was brought on board to excel in these situations and will want to flex his scoring ability against the Kings.

Cummings will probably look to be more active in helping with the build-up play and also being smarter with his movement. Kazi has to maintain his heroics from the last game and stick with the forward like glue, tracking his every movement to ensure he doesn’t get any freedom. The Mohun Bagan star will look to be at his clinical best to finish whatever chances are created and power his side to a big win.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.