AFC Cup 2022 Live Commentary: ATK Mohun Bagan Vs Blue Star SC

Follow the live-action for the ATK Mohun Bagan Vs Blue Star SC, AFC Cup 2022 qualifiers, match here. (Refresh the page if any issue arises).

6:30 pm: Hello everyone and welcome to Khel Now’s LIVE COVERAGE of the ATK Mohun Bagan Vs Blue Star SC match in AFC Cup 2022 Qualifiers. The kick-off is just an hour away! I’m your host Uttiyo Sarkar, and I’ll be keeping you company through what promises a fascinating night of football.

Read: ATK Mohun Bagan Vs Blue Star SC Preview

ATK Mohun Bagan Vs Blue Star SC: Build-up

ATK Mohun Bagan start their road to AFC Cup 2022 qualification by playing Sri Lankan side Blue Star SC in the Preliminary Round 2 of the qualifying playoffs on Tuesday. It will also mark the first time that they will play at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata in the post-pandemic era – having played the majority of their games in Goa.

There is no room for slipping up for the Mariners. They have to win this game to keep their dreams of qualifying for the 2022 AFC Cup alive. A win here will take them to the final round of the qualifying playoffs.

Blue Star might be the underdogs in this one, but they won’t back away without a fight. A thrilling, action-packed encounter is on the line for the fans returning for this continental match.

As noted earlier, this is no room for mistakes for ATK Mohun Bagan. After falling short in the Indian Super League (ISL) campaign, in which they failed to win the league championship or the ISL playoffs, they’ll be looking for a bright showing in the AFC Cup.

Juan Ferrando’s side need to keep focus on the threat and treat this like a big final. Losing in their first AFC Cup qualifier to a team that is considerably inferior in overall quality can be extremely embarrassing and undo all their planning over the last year. Anything but a win will be deemed a failure, so a lot is riding on this for the Mariners.

Blue Star SC have dominated the Sri Lankan league in recent seasons. They comfortably won the 2021 Sri Lankan Super League, which allowed them to qualify for the AFC Cup qualifying playoffs.

But, that’s exactly why the Blue Army have nothing to lose. They’re playing a team that has many more star-studded players than their own, at a venue favouring the hosts and an environment they’ve never played in before. A win will be monumental for Blue Star SC and Sri Lankan football, while a loss won’t really be a surprise. As a result, they’ll play with less pressure than ATKMB and can use that to trouble the hosts.

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