Anwar Ali produced two nicely-headed goals to help Mohun Bagan Super Giant clear the first hurdle of its continental aspirations by downing Machhindra FC of Nepal 3-1 in a second-round play-off of the AFC Cup qualifiers, at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Wednesday.
Australian World Cupper Jason Cummings produced the other strike to complete the win for Mohun Bagan, which plays Abahani Dhaka in the next round at the same venue on August 22.
Pierre Jean Oloumou scored the only goal for Machhindra FC.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Machhindra FC Goals, highlights
Anwar Ali put his name on the scorer’s list for MBSG to put an end to the agony of misses that his side encountered in the first 39 minutes of action.
Fielding its most formidable line-up packed with the India national team regulars like Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad and Ashique Kuruniyan, Mohun Bagan coach Juan Ferrando ensured that his side put the best foot forward to begin its continental crusade.
In his first season with the city giant, Anwar Ali showed his effectiveness as a set-piece finisher when he rose above the Machhindra defence to nod home a corner taken by Hugo Boumous in the 39th minute.
The star-studded Mohun Bagan was struggling to find the target as the Machhindra captain and goalkeeper Bishal Shrestha denied the host multiple scoring chances, making spectacular saves off the attempts by Samad, Cummings and Subhasish Bose in the 25th, 30th and 32nd minutes.
Mohun Bagan showed more initiative after the break and started probing the Machhindra box more regularly. Cummings doubled the lead in the 59th minute as he made a darting run from near the centre line to nicely finish a Mohun Bagan counter-attack.
Oloumou pulled one back for Machhindra in the 78th minute to threaten Mohun Bagan’s dominance but Anwar showed his scoring ability again nodding substitute Dimitri Petratos’s free-kick into the net, in the 85th minute.
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