AFC Cup Group Stage 2023: Mohun Bagan Super Giant beat Dhaka Abahani to qualify for Group Stage

Mohun Bagan Super Giant scripted a brilliant comeback to walk out victorious in their AFC Cup 2023-2024 playoff round with a scoreline of 3-1 with Jason Cummings and Armando Sadiku both on the score sheet for Mohun Bagan.

AFC Cup Group Stage 2023: Mohun Bagan Super Giant beat Dhaka Abahani to qualify for Group Stage

Mohun Bagan Super Giant qualified for the playoff round after beating Nepali side Machhindra FC in the preliminary round while Dhaka Abahani beat Club Eagles of Maldives.

It was set to be a tight affair between both the sides as Mohun Bagan Super Giant's new players are all yet to get with the Indian conditions and the other players.

The match began with basically Dhaka Abahani playing counter-attacking football while trying to play a park the bus system. And that work perfectly for them as they took the lead in the match as Cornelius Stewart scored the opening goal of the match for Dhaka Abahani at the 17th minute mark.

But, just before half-time break, Mohun Bagan managed to equalize through a penalty as Liston Colaco was brought down by a Dhaka player inside the box and Australian talismanic striker Jason Cummings made no mistake from the spot to get Mohun Bagan back on level terms at the 37th minute mark. 

Both the teams went into the Half-Time with 1 goal each. But it was Mohun Bagan who came out of the tunnel a more determined side. They managed to score two quick goals just after the 2nd half started.

Hugo Boumous' brilliant low cross for Sadiku was tapped into their own goal by Dhaka Abahani player Soleimani at the 58th minute while Armando Sadiku scored his first Mohun Bagan Super Giant goal at the 60th minute when this time Sadiku got ahead of Dhaka player and met with Boumous' low cross of a quick corner tap in for a his first goal and Mohun Bagan's third goal of the match.

After that, the green and maroon side slowed the pace of the game looking to conserve their energy for the highly anticipated Durand Cup 2023 quarter-final match against Mumbai City FC on the 27th of August.

AFC Cup 2023 Group Stage

The match ended 3-1 after the full 90 minutes of the match and Mohun Bagan with win have booked its place into the AFC Cup 2023 Group Stage. They will be in the South Zone with neighbouring clubs Odisha FC from India, Bangladesh's Basundhara Kings and Maldives' Maziya Sports and Recreation Club.

AFC Cup 2023 South Zone Group

Odisha FC (India)

Mohun Bagan Super Giant (India)

Basundhara Kings (Bangladesh)

Maziya S&RC (Maldives)