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Mohun Bagan Super Giant struggles proceed as they lose 0-1 to Ahal FK, going through powerful upcoming matches in Asia after a shaky begin to the season.
Kolkata, India – Sept. 16, 2025: Ahal FC (TKM) celebrates the win in opposition to Mohun Bagan (India) throughout AFC Championship League match at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, India, on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. (Photo by Samir Jana/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)
Mohun Bagan’s subsequent two matches are away, to Iran’s Sepahan, who completed second within the league in 2024-25, and Jordan Pro League champions Al Hussein. This seems to be like a mountain to climb.
The shot from Enver Annayev — he had performed for Turkmenistan’s Arkadag once they beat East Bengal within the Challenge League — that arrowed into the far publish within the 83rd minute was the night time’s solely aim however by then the visiting staff had acquired Mohun Bagan’s quantity.
Magtymberdi Berenov, whom Annayev changed, had come shut earlier than that. His shot within the thirty first minute, following a neat change of passes with Elman Tagayev and Hakmuhammet Bashimov, grazed the upright. When Berenov went once more within the 57th minute, Vishal Kaith flew to his proper to maintain out the trouble from vary.
At the pre-match media convention, Ahal FK’s coach Eziz Annamuhammedov had mentioned he was assured that the house staff must be careful for plenty of their gamers. His staff, with none international participant however with a bunch of nationwide staff regulars, walked the speak silencing the 41,003 who had fetched up at Salt Lake stadium which, after the Durand Cup defeat to East Bengal, shouldn’t be a fortress anymore for the ISL double winners.
The loss to East Bengal was additionally the final match Mohun Bagan had performed. Their opponents had gamers who did responsibility within the CAFA Nations Cup and have been a part of the Yokary Liga, Turkmenistan’s league which had begun in March. Molina was requested on Monday whether or not that might make a distinction. “We’ll see,” he had mentioned.
Ahal ended with extra possession (57%), extra pictures (12) and extra pictures on the right track (5). They performed 506 passes to Mohun Bagan’s 377. Ahal managed the match higher, disrupted Mohun Bagan’s momentum, had accomplished their analysis on Bagan – proof of which was how proper wingback Bashimov shackled Liston Colaco – and all the time had an additional participant in midfield. For all their attacking firepower replete with former World Cup gamers from Australia, Mohun Bagan look a international central defensive midfielder brief.
Mohun Bagan regarded higher going ahead when Molina switched from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2 with Jamie Maclaren and Anirudh Thapa approaching within the 58th minute. Their greatest probability got here within the 69th minute when Thapa unlocked the midfield and located Jason Cummings, who squared to Maclaren. Goalkeeper Berdiyev Kakageldi scotched the scoring alternative by getting large on the Australian who has probably the most targets in A-League historical past. That was Mohun Bagan’s solely shot on the right track.
Two minutes earlier, Cummings had shot out after Maclaren did effectively to hook one again. In the eightieth minute, Sahal Abdul Samad cushioned a crossfield ball from Robson Robinho however dragged the shot large.
Like within the inter-zonal last of AFC Cup in 2021, which ATK Mohun Bagan had misplaced 0-6 to FC Nasaf, Bagan regarded rusty. Cummings ballooning one within the first half, Lalengmawia Ralte not trying snug in possession, Kaith’s cross kicked to the touch and Colaco’s incapability to ship crosses that might beat the primary defender had been all proof of an absence of sport time.
Hindsight is a superb factor however it may be mentioned that maintaining gamers away from worldwide responsibility didn’t show to be prudent at a time when there was no soccer at residence.
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