Indian clubs’ heaviest defeats in AFC Champions League Elite & ACL 2 history

Bengaluru FC reached the AFC Cup 2016 final!

Since 1967, Indian clubs have been competing regularly in Asian competitions. From Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan to Goan clubs like Salgaocar, Dempo and Churchill Brothers playing for the pride of the tricolour, Indian clubs have come a long way.

Ever since the inception of the AFC Champions League, Indian teams have struggled to make it to the top division of Asian football. Things changed after the ISL Shield Winners were allotted a direct spot in the AFC Champions League. Despite an underwhelming campaign in ACL, Indian clubs have fared relatively well in the AFC Cup, the second tier of Asian club competitions.

From Bengaluru FC reaching the finals of the AFC Cup 2016 to East Bengal reaching the semi-finals in the AFC Cup 2013, the journey, however, has not been a linear curve and has seen many ups and downs. In this feature article, we take you down memory lane to find out some of the worst defeats of Indian clubs in the AFC Champions League and ACL 2.

5. Nasaf 6-0 ATK Mohun Bagan (AFC Cup 2021)

After the merger of ATK and Mohun Bagan, the Mariners were allotted a direct spot in the AFC Cup group stages. The Mariners, led by Antonio Lopez Habas, went on to remain unbeaten and topped Group D to make it to the Inter Zone Play-off Semi-Finals.

Their campaign ended in a disaster after Nasaf handed them a 6-0 defeat in the Inter Zonal semi-finals. Even a star-studded Mohun Bagan team consisting of David Williams, Roy Krishna, Joni Kauko and Carl McHugh were not enough to avoid a humiliating defeat as Nasaf scored five in the first 45 minutes.

4. Al Kuwait 7-1 Churchill Brothers (AFC Cup 2010)

Churchill Brothers, led by Brazilian gaffer Carlos Pereira, were the reigning I League champions. After they faced a defeat in the ACL Qualifiers, they had to settle for a spot in the AFC Cup. In one of their group stage clash against Al Kuwait, they faced a 7-1 defeat against Al Kuwait.

Arindam Bhattacharja, Gouramangi Singh and Lenny Rodrigues were some of the notable players in the Goan squad. Despite that defeat, Churchill went on to qualify for the Round of 16 before Al Qadsia defeated them 2-1 in the knockout fixture.

3. Al Shabab 6-0 Mumbai City FC (AFC Champions League 2022)

Mumbai City FC, led by Des Buckingham, were the ISL Shield winners in 2022. Despite an impressive campaign in the AFC Champions League after becoming the first Indian side to win a game in ACL, they faced a heavy defeat against Al Shabab.

The playing 11 featured some big names like Ahmed Jahouh, Mourtada Fall and Igor Angulo. It took Al Shabab less than an hour to net three goals and soon the floodgates were open and the Saudi giants went on to score six against the Islanders.

2. Al Hilal 6-0 Mumbai City FC (AFC Champions League 2023-24)

Des Buckingham’s Mumbai were back again in the AFC Champions League and saw one of the worst ever campaigns after the Islanders failed to register a single point after six straight defeats. Al Hilal, led by Jorge Jesus, featured some of the biggest names in European and world football.

From former Fulham striker Mitrovic scoring a hat-trick to Serbian midfield maestro Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves to ex-Chelsea centre back Koulibaly, Mumbai seemed clueless in that game. Post that disastrous campaign, India lost their direct spot in the AFC Champions League Elite.

1. Nasaf 9-0 Dempo (AFC Cup 2011)

The Markaziy Stadioni in Uzbekistan saw Dempo FC suffering the worst-ever defeat in the history of Indian clubs competing in Asia. Armando Colaco-led Dempo suffered a 9-0 defeat against Uzbek outfit Nasaf, who went on to become the AFC Cup Champions in 2011.

Despite a heavy defeat, Dempo went on to make it to the knockout round after finishing as runners-up of Group A. In the knockout round, Iraqi side Duhok handed them a 1-0 defeat to end India’s Asian pursuits in the AFC Cup 2011.

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