Ahal FK Stuns Mohun Bagan Super Giant on Home Turf

Mohun Bagan Super Giant suffered a shocking defeat in their opening day match of the AFC Champions League 2, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan at the hands of Turkmenistan side Ahal FK on Tuesday. Mohun Bagan Super Giant started with their traditional 4-3-3 formation, with Deepak Tangri and Apuia playing as pivots. Kiyan Nassiri got a rare chance to feature in the starting XI on the right flank.

The first half was one of few chances as both teams played a relatively safe brand of football, looking to play long aerial balls and hit on the counter. Ahal FK got the first break in the 2nd minute when Mirzoyev got a shot away but without troubling Vishal Kaith. Ahal FK started with a unique formation of 5-2-2-1 which in attacking transitions looked like an interesting 3-3-4. In the 13th minute, Mohun Bagan Super Giant got the first corner of the game through Kiyan Nassiri, in what was a three pass move forward which again involved a long ball played down the middle by Asish Rai. Kiyan Nassiri looked quite active as he tried to make use of the opportunity when, in the 15th minute, he dribbled past the left-back of Ahal FK, cut inside, and put in a good ball for Jason Cummings, which he failed to connect. Mohun Bagan Super Giant tried to play a few passes among themselves when, in the 21st minute, Cummings and Liston Colaco got themselves in a one-two situation only to get a free kick for their effort. In the 24th minute, Ahal FK got their first corner of the game against the run of play. But this corner kick would be the chance to properly go forward for the first time in the game, where they shifted to their unique 3-3-4 formation and their attacking overload almost paid off when they hit the post in the 32nd minute. When Basimov played a dangerous ball from the right flank, everyone missed it, and luckily for Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the ball did not fall to one of the four forwards of Ahal FK and Alberto Rodriguez was able to clear. Mohun Bagan Super Giant were constantly looking to hit on the counter and in the 37th minute, Jason Cummings was within shooting territory but his shot was wayward as he shot the ball high into the sky. In the 44th minute, Liston Colaco made a good run through the left flank but due to lack of availability from his colleagues, the attack didn't trouble the Ahal FK defenders much. Minutes before the break, Tovakelov tried his luck from distance when he took a shot from range and it forced a strong fist from Vishal Kaith.

After the restart, Mohun Bagan Super Giant looked to start on the front foot as they received a corner in the 46th minute. The next 10 minutes were difficult for both sets of defenders as both teams were looking to open up the aerial route and a series of long balls were played but to no effect. In the 57th minute, Berenov made a run through the midfield, cut in, and took a shot which forced Vishal Kaith's hand again. In the following minute, the game saw Mohun Bagan Super Giant making their first change, with the introduction of Jamie Maclaren and Anirudh Thapa for Kiyan Nassiri and Deepak Tangri, respectively. Jamie Maclaren and Anirudh Thapa almost combined in the 59th minute to give Mohun Bagan Super Giant the lead, only to be ruled offside by the linesman. In the following 10 minutes of the game, Ahal FK players were starting to feel the humidity as a number of their players were going down with cramps. In the 69th minute, Mohun Bagan Super Giant got a huge chance to open the scoring but they were denied by the goalkeeper, Kakageldi. It was a beautiful passage of play between Anirudh Thapa, who played a through ball between the defenders. It was received by Cummings, who selflessly passed the ball to his countryman, Maclaren, only for him to find the goalkeeper. In the 72nd minute, Mohun Bagan Super Giant fans got the much-anticipated debut of their new man, Robson. The following minutes were crucial as both teams got agonizingly close to scoring, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant getting probably the chance of the game when the debutant, Robson, played a beautiful long ball across the flank to find Sahal Abdul Samad, only for him to drag the shot wide in the 82nd minute. The following minute, Ahal FK started to build from the back and their two substitutes, Gurbanberdiyev and Annayev, combined to give Ahal FK the lead, with the former Arkadag forward, Annayev, getting the goal in the 83rd minute. After getting the goal, like any team would do, Ahal FK totally switched to a low block and cleared their lines whenever they got the ball. Mohun Bagan Super Giant's lack of adaptability was on show when they continued the use of long balls even in the last minute in order to salvage a point but to no avail. Mohun Bagan Super Giant will look to bounce back when they travel to Isfahan, Iran, to face Sepahan SC on the 30th of September.