Mohun Bagan off to disappointing start in AFC Champions League 2; down to third place in Group C

The Mariners were humbled by Turkmenistan’s Ahal FK on Tuesday.

The reigning Indian Super League champions, Mohun Bagan, were handed a defeat by Turkmenistan’s Ahal FK in the opening AFC Champions League 2 fixture. In what was a great effort from the visiting side, Ahal overshadowed the Mariners at their home. With this defeat, Mohun Bagan’s Asian campaign this season has suffered an early setback.

The match went till the end as both sides pushed for an elusive opening goal. The ISL champions were ineffective in the final third as they missed some crucial chances. However, Ahal created daylight between them and the Indian club in terms of converting the chances. Enwer Annayew scored the winner in the 83rd minute to snatch all three points for Ahal FK.

Also Read: Jose Molina rues Mohun Bagan’s lack of luck factor after Ahal FK loss in ACL Two

Blow for Jose Molina

The appalling defeat against Ahal FK has put Jose Molina under pressure as fans want him to deliver on the continental stage. This loss in the opening fixture has resulted in Mohun Bagan dropping to third place in Group C. The Mariners’ failure to start on a positive note has added to the perils of their uphill Asian campaign.

Alongside Mohun Bagan and Ahal FK, Group C also has Al Hussein from Jordan and Iran’s Sepahan. Both Al Hussein and Sepahan clashed in the other Group C fixture. That match ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for the Jordanian club. It was a shocker for the Iranian giants as they are the frontrunners to top the group.

Ahal FK and Al Hussein are at the top of the group after matchday 1. They have three points each with a similar goal difference. Whereas the losers from matchday 1, Mohun Bagan and Sepahan, occupy the bottom two places with 0 points and a negative goal difference of 1.

Mohun Bagan to travel to Iran

The Mariners will face Sepahan in their next AFC Champions League 2 fixture on September 30. It will be an away fixture for the Indian club. This is the same travel routine that landed Mohun Bagan in trouble last season. They refused to travel to Iran last time due to the vulnerable security situation in the Middle East.

The decision not to travel to Iran resulted in the disqualification of Mohun Bagan from the AFC Champions League 2 last season after just one game. It was a huge setback for the Mariners, who were prepared to leave their mark on the continental stage after a strong domestic season.

The game against Sepahan would not be just another match where they will fight for three points. The Indian Super League champions would be playing for their pride, and the loss in the game against Ahal FK would add to the cause, pushing Jose Molina’s side to go for nothing but the win.

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