Guwahati: A second string Mohun Bagan, already through to the knock-out round, suffered a 0-3 defeat at the hands of South China in its final group match of the AFC Cup football tournament here today.
Law Hiu Chung (19’), Ryan Griffiths (24’) and Mahama Awal (33’) scored for South China at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium here.
It was the first loss of competition for Mohun Bagan, which has already qualified for the round of 16 as group winner.
The Hong Kong outfit had the opportunity to score as early as the third minute but Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Arnab Das came in the way.
The visiting team got another chance to take the lead in the ninth minute but Chung, inside the box, failed to find the target after a pass from Griffiths.
South China missed its third chance to strike before Mohun Bagan squandered a chance of its own in the 14th minute.
The visitor finally took the lead five minutes later when Chung managed to chip the ball into the back of the net. It soon doubled its lead as Chung’s corner kick was headed in by Chan Wai Ho with Arnab getting little time to defend.
South China struck its third and final goal when Awal’s strike took a deflection and the Mohun Bagan goalkeeper could not do much to save it.
The match was only going one way thereafter. Mohun Bagan, however, did have an opening to score in injury time but it went begging due to an ordinary effort from Wisdom Fofo.
Johor Darul too much for BFC
Bengaluru FC conceded three times in the last 20 minutes to go down 3-0 to reigning champion Johor Darul Ta’zim in an inconsequential Group H tie of the AFC Cup in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on Wednesday. Goals from substitute Safiq Rahim, Safee Sali and Shakir Shaari made sure the home side maintained an all-win record in the group stages of the competition.
Both teams had already qualified for the Round-of-16 going into this game. BFC, which will now meet Kitchee SC in Hong Kong, fielded a full strength side, but was unable to avoid defeat.
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