ATK Mohun Bagan will face ASEAN Zone champions in Inter Zonal semi-finals of AFC Cup

Last year the club lost 6-0 to FC Nasaf in the same round.

ATK Mohun Bagan will be facing the ASEAN Zone champions in the Inter Zonal semi-finals of the AFC Cup 2022. The draw took place at 12:30 pm IST. The clubs will either be from Indonesia, Malaysia or Vietnam. ATK Mohun Bagan have earned the privilege to host the match. Thus, the encounter will take place on 7th September, 2022, in Kolkata, India.ATK Mohun Bagan ended second in the Indian Super League 2020/21 season. Since Mumbai City won both the League Winners’ Shield and the ISL Trophy, the Mariners got a chance to represent the country at the continental event. After a draw in January, it was set that ATK Mohun Bagan will be engulfed by Basundhara Kings, Maziya Sports & Recreation Club and Gokulam Kerala in Group D of the AFC Cup.

ATK Mohun Bagan’s AFC Cup 2022 campaign

The tournament however, didn’t provide ATK Mohun Bagan the best of starts. The very first match saw Juan Ferrando’s side admit defeat to a might Gokulam Kerala. The dynamics of the group changed overnight. Previously, critics claimed ATK Mohun Bagan as the favourites. The tag was now shifted to the Malabarians.

However, a 4-0 win against Basundhara Kings and Maziya defeating Gokulam Kerala brought back the Mariners into contention of ending as group champions. In their ultimate Group D encounter, Bagan defeated Maziya comfortably to secure their qualification into the next round.

Changes in the squad

After nearly two months from the AFC Cup group stage campaign, the ATK Mohun Bagan team looks different. They now have players like Florentin Pogba and Brendan Hamill in their squad. Simultaneously, forwards David Williams and Roy Krishna have left the club. David Williams has reportedly joined Mumbai City. However, whether the Australian will continue in India is a rumoured question. Roy Krishna meanwhile, is yet to decide on his future.

ATK Mohun Bagan featured in the previous edition of the AFC Cup as well. The group stage matches were fruitful but in the Inter Zonal playoffs, they suffered a heavy defeat against FC Nasaf. The then coach Antonio Lopez Habas literally fielded two makeshift centre-backs, Pritam Kotal and Carl McHugh. The result was there in the scorecard. This year, the club has put more emphasis in revamping the defensive third. The Mariners have secured the signatures of Pogba and Hamill, as mentioned earlier. Alongside them Asish Rai has also been signed on a long-term contract. Ashique Kuruniyan, who is a left-winger but can also operate as a left-back, has joined the club as well. The goalkeeping vertical is also fully packed with Vishal Kaith joining the likes of Amrinder Singh and Arsh Anwer Sheikh.