Mohun Bagan Super Giant had a strong start in the 2023-24 AFC Cup by winning 3-1 against Machhindra FC from Nepal in the Preliminary Round 2. New players Anwar Ali and Jason Cummings scored their first goals for the Mariners. Ali used his head to score from corner kicks, while Cummings showed his coolness in front of the goal.
In the first half, Mohun Bagan Super Giant was in control, trying to score 13 times while Machhindra FC didn't have many chances. Anwar Ali managed to head the ball into the net from a corner kick taken by Hugo Boumous in the 40th minute, even though Machhindra FC's captain and goalkeeper Bishal Shrestha made good saves.
Sahal Abdul Samad, who recently joined the team, played well in his first match and almost scored twice in the first half, but the Machhindra FC goalkeeper stopped him both times.
The second half was similar, with Mohun Bagan SG attacking a lot but struggling to score. Coach Juan Ferrando made some changes, bringing in Manvir Singh and Dimitrios Petratos, which helped Cummings score a goal in the 56th minute.
Machhindra FC scored a powerful free-kick goal in the 78th minute through Pierre Jean Oloumou, making the match a bit tense. However, Mohun Bagan didn't back down and kept trying to control the game. Anwar Ali scored his second goal of the match with a header from a free-kick by Petratos in the 86th minute, securing the victory.
This win was important for Mohun Bagan Super Giant, especially after not performing well in the Kolkata derby. This victory means they move forward to the next stage of the AFC Cup, where they will play against Abahani Limited Dhaka on August 22.
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