AFC Cup: Young Mohun Bagan brigade aim to end campaign on a high

Mohun Bagan head coach Juan Ferrando also hasn’t travelled with the squad along with the first-team players.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant will look to end their AFC Cup 2023/24 group stages campaign on a positive note when they travel to the Maldives to face Maziya S&RC in their final game of the campaign. The Mariners are already knocked out of the tournament but will be determined to exit with their heads held high with a win.

The Stakes

Maziya S&RC

The Green Boys have not had luck on their side at all in the AFC Cup campaign, losing multiple matches by the narrowest of margins. They will be just playing for pride in this game and will hope to give their home fans something to smile about when they face the Indian Super League (ISL) heavyweights.

Maziya have nothing to lose, so they’ll probably look to take the fight to the Mariners and put on an exciting attacking display. A loss will be bitter but not the end of the world. A win, on the other hand, will prove that this Maziya team has what it takes to fight with the top Indian sides and that they aren’t just the whipping boys.

Mohun Bagan

Mohun Bagan know that a win can secure them at least a possible top-two finish in their group, as long as the other game isn’t a draw. While qualification to the knockout rounds is now impossible, Clifford Miranda’s young brigade will aim to deliver a last hurrah in Asia for their fans.

A win can instil the confidence into the youngsters who have travelled for this game and help them secure a place in the main team.

Injury & Team News

The Mariners have opted to rest their first-team stars for this game, knowing that qualification into the next round is impossible. The youngsters who played in the Calcutta Football League have travelled for the match. They will be led by assistant coach Clifford Miranda.

Head-to-Head (This season)

Mohun Bagan SG have faced Maziya S&RC just once earlier in the 2023/24 AFC Cup campaign. They defeated the Maldives side by a 2-1 margin at the Salt Lake Stadium, thanks to a late winner from Jason Cummings.

Did you know?

• Mohun Bagan have conceded nine goals in their last three AFC Cup games, after only conceding once in their first two matches.
• Vojislav Balabanovic is the only Maziya player to have scored two goals in the AFC Cup this season.
• The Mariners have conceded six of their 10 goals (in the AFC Cup group campaign) in the first half.

Telecast

The Maziya S&RC vs Mohun Bagan game kicks off at 3:30 PM IST, at the Maldives National Football Stadium, Male on 11 December. This match will be streamed live on the FanCode app.

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