MBSG 3 - 1 ALD, Highlights, AFC Cup Playoff: Mohun Bagan secures AFC cup group stage place with win over Abahani Dhaka

• Odisha FC (IND)

• Bashundhara Kings (BAN)

• Maziya Sports & Recreation Club (MAD)

• Mohun Bagan Super Giant (IND)

Jason Cummings: “The coach wasn’t happy in the half-time, he said we can do better. Second half was a good performance, Armando got a goal, Hugo created the own goal. It’s still early days, but, we have to build on this performance.”

An excellent second half performance from the Mariners as two quick goals completes the comeback against Abahani Dhaka. An own goal from Milad Sheikh and a goal soon after from Armando Sadiku ensures that Mohun Bagan get the win.

Abahani Dhaka did not really create many chances in the second half and its star player Cornelius Stewart was kept quiet after he created quite a few problems in the first half.

Manvir and Kiyan combine to create another chance for the Mariners. The two have been a menace for the Bangladesh team since coming on.

Cornelius with a volley late in the game but it is wide of the post. The referee blows for Full Time.

Four minutes of stoppage time. Fans in the stands with their flashlights on as the Mariners near another win.

Manvir in space down the left side of the box, tries to square it to Kiyan at the far post but the defender dives to intercept. Replays suggest he used his hand but nothing from the ref.

Chance for Nassiri! Great ball control from the youngster inside the box and tries to get a shot away but couldn’t get enough contact.

Kiyan Nassiri comes in instead of Jason Cummings. Asish Rai is replaced as well. Hnamte replaces him.

Chance!! Kuruniyan lets fly after a throughball in finds him in space in the box. Just above the cross bar.

Another attack from Abahani Dhaka and Asish Rai puts out the cross from the left for a corner. The corner falls to the feet of Rahmat at the edge of the box but his shot is too high.

A chance for Dhaka!! Kaith comes out to catch and is nowhere near the ball, the forward gets his head to it but he can’t get it on target. Could have been the second costly mistake from the keeper this game.

IN: Ashique Kuruniyan, Glan Martins

OUT: Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad

Almost walking pace from MBSG as it recycles possession in the middle of the field. The Bangladesh team has not been able to create anything from the counter attacks in this half.

Close! Manvir almost scores with his first touch. The ball came in following the freekick and Manvir gets his head to it. The ball goes out of play very close to the far post.

A few changes for the team from Bangladesh as it looks to make a comeback in the game. Yousef is shown a yellow card for a foul on Liston Colaco.

Manvir replaces the goalscorer Sadiku.

What an exhilarating few minutes for Mohun Bagan SG. Two quick goals has turned the game completely in its favour. The team is very much in control of this match and are returning back to controlling possession.

Goal!! Corner taken quickly and Sadiku scores! Boumous tried it once earlier and this time it comes off, Dhaka was not ready to deal with the danger. Boumous long range shot was saved by the keeper for the corner. The quick corner finds Colaco and he finds Sadiku to get the two goal lead.

MBSG 3 - 1 ALD

Own goal!! Excellent play to find Boumous in space in the box, his ball into the far post is turned in to his own net by Milad Sheikh. Sadiku was waiting at the far post to turn it in as well.

MBSG 2 - 1 ALD

A delicious cross in from Jason Cummings from the left side, hanged it up for Sadiku at the far post but the defender does well to head it behind for a corner.

A bad challenge from captain Subhashish and he is shown a yellow card. First MBSG player to go into the book.

Another corner for MBSG after Boumous attempted cross from the left of the box is headed out by Bablu. The corner comes in and is headed out comfortably by the defence.

A long throw in from the right and Emeka gets his head to it. Very close to the near post and Kaith was scrambling. Just past the post.

Early corner for Mohun Bagan and Hector Yuste attempts to get his head to the Boumous corner. The header is off target though.

Mohun Bagan gets us underway at the VYBK. The team will be looking to fare better at the front and convert the chances.

The score is level at half-time. Cummings’ penalty following a foul on Colaco brought Mohun Bagan SG back into the game after Vishal Kaith’s early error allowed Cornelius to score an early opener for Abahani Dhaka.

The Dhaka side had an excellent start to the game counter attacking brilliantly and they almost took the lead at the half-time whistle following a free-kick. Mohun Bagan has been the better team, creating numerous chances but the final ball and finish has been missing. Join us in ten minutes for the second half!

Two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the half. Chance!! A long freekick into the box and the deflection from the header almost trickles into the net. Good save from Kaith to turn it onto the post!

Mohun Bagan very much in control of the ball since conceding the early goal. Subashish delivers a beautiful ball in from the left and Cummings almost turns it in for a second goal!

An attempted long ball to Colaco is cut out by the defender and a corner is conceded. The corner is eerily close to the goal but Yuste is just not close enough to turn it in. Ridoy did well to get in front of the forward and win the initial header.

Cummings scores! The Australian makes no mistake from the spot as he dispatches the penalty to the right corner of the goal, past the diving keeper. A deserved equaliser for Mohun Bagan!

MBSG 1 - 1 ALD

Penalty awarded for MBSG!! Colaco brought down in the box trying to get at the end of the second ball after the keeper initially saved a shot from the left wing.

Another glorious chance for Sahal! A cross in from the right wing is deflected onto Sahal’s path and he can’t get a shot away in time. The keeper does well to cover the near post. MBSG creating many chances but the final finish been missing.

Sahal with a chance to shoot from the edge of the box but he hesitated on the shot and the chance goes away. Asish has another chance to put a cross into the box, cleared by the defence again.

Appeals for a penalty!! Looked like Boumous was pushed in the box, but the referee plays on! Replays suggest a blatant push on the back of the MBSG number 10.

Cornelius has another shot from the edge of the box but this time Kaith is upto the task!

First yellow card of the game for Muzaffarov. Liston curls in a shot from the edge of the box on the left side and the keeper pouches it safely. First shot on target for the Mariners.

Rai with more space down the right. Makes a run into the box but Ridoy’s block puts it out for a corner. Almost 3 MBSG players were waiting for that cross to come in.

Great ball over the top to find Cummings. He passes it to Rai who crosses it into the box but the defence heads it clear.

Boumous almost finds Asish Rai in the box with a through ball, just a little too ahead of him and despite the diving effort he can’t keep it in.

Goal!!! Vishal Kaith makes a mess of an easy catch and Cornelius is there to turn it in. Cornelius has been a menace all game and he was there in the right place at the right time to take full advantage of the mistake.

MBSG 0 - 1 ALD

Another shot from distance, this time it is Colaco. He blazes it high over the bar though!

Dhaka not allowing Mohun Bagan to control posession. A constant counter attack threat looming. Sadiku has a chance from distance but doesn’t get enough power as it goes out meekly for a goal kick.

The Abahani Dhaka keeper scuffs his kick and he is stuck in no man’s land but no real danger caused as the team clears the ball. Can’t afford to make such mistakes with the quality of players in MBSG.

Dhaka with a quick counter after winning the ball near the penalty box. Cornelius with a super run and Kaith saves at the near post! From one end to the other in no time.

Long ball into the box from Dhaka and the second ball is won back. An excellent one-two involving Cornelius and Anwar Ali is needed to clear the danger. Great chance for the the Bangladesh team!

Chance!! Excellent run by Colaco down the left wing, cuts it back to Cummings in the box. Doesn’t get proper contact and it is an easy save for the keeper.

Mohun Bagan in its traditional kit. Abahani Dhaka sporting its blue kit. Match kicks off!

Just a few minutes to kick-off! Juan Ferrando’s men have an opportunity to progress to the AFC Cup.

Mohun Bagan SG: Vishal Kaith (GK), Asish Rai, Anwar Ali, Hector Yuste, Subhasish Bose (C), Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Liston Colaco, Hugo Boumous, Jason Cummings, Armando Sadiku

Abahani Dhaka: Shahidul Alam (GK) (C), Sushanto Tripura, Riday, Cornelius Stewart, Muzaffarov, Yousef Mohammad, David Ifegw, Ashaduzzaman Bablu, Emeka Ogbugh, Milad Sheikh, Rahmat Mia

The AFC Cup Playoff Round match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Abahani Dhaka at the VYBK in Kolkata will be streamed live on the Mohun Bagan SG Facebook page for subscribers only.

There is no live telecast of the match available in India.

Buoyed by a dominant start, Mohun Bagan Super Giant will be looking to build on its continental aspirations when it takes on Abahani Dhaka from Bangladesh in the AFC Cup playoff match at home in Salt Lake Stadium here on Tuesday.

The Indian Super League champion made a strong start to its campaign by prevailing over Machhindra FC of Nepal (3-1) and cleared the preliminary stage in its first outing of the tournament, at the same venue five days ago.

The Mariners will be eager to continue the momentum and progress to the South Zone group stage for which Odisha FC, Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh) and Maziya Sports and Recreation Club (Maldives) have already qualified.

- Amitabha Das Sharma

Read full preview here: Mohun Bagan wary of in-form Abahani Dhaka in crucial AFC Cup clash

Welcome to Sportstar’s live blog of the 2023 AFC Cup Playoff round match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Abahani Dhaka at the VYBK in Kolkata. Stay Tuned for lineups and other important match updates.