After a surprise exit out of the AFC Cup group stages at the hands of Odisha FC, Mohun Bagan will play their last ever match of the AFC Cup, which is getting rechristened to ACL 2, at the picturesque country of Maldives, the home of Dhivehi Premier League Champions Maziya Sports and Recreation. Although the wounds inflicted on that fateful night at the VYBK against Lobera’s men (who will be battling it out against Bashundhara for the solitary knockout spot from the group) will take time to heal, there are some positives which can be taken out from the next match.
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| Courtesy : MBSG Media |
The management has taken a commendable
decision by sending only the reserve players to Maldives with assistant Clifford
Miranda while the main team would prepare for the upcoming game against North
East United with Ferrando. This will provide adequate experience and game time
for our young colts at a time when AIFF’s footballing calendar devoid of opportunities
for Reserve teams continue to plague the development of youth players throughout
the country.
Even though the club has shown
little to no interest in having an academy of their own, they have managed to form
a competitive reserves team, thanks to the expert scouts, financial stability
of the club, and the expert guidance of reserves coach Bastab Roy. Addition of legendary
ISL coach Antonio Lopez Habas, who was the first team head coach prior to
Ferrando, as the club Technical Director will only help bring forward more such
unpolished diamonds from not only Bengal but also from other parts of the
country.
As for Maziya, they have had a
rather impressive campaign even through they are at bottom of the group. They had
taken the lead against Mohun Bagan, Odisha and Bashundhara and nearly won all
those matches if not for them slacking off late game and allowing the opponents
come back and take away all the three points. Their solitary win came in their
first game against Bashundhara at home. Their style of play has been one quite
fitting and justified when it comes to facing off huge budgeted clubs from
India and Bangladesh, involving wings, multiple positional rotations and not
shying away from long rangers, which they are quite good at. A more detailed
look into their approach can be found in our Know Your Opponent on the
Maldivian outfit.
Roll on.............
Previous Encounters between
Mohun Bagan SG and Maziya Sports and Recreation:
AFC Cup 2023: Mohun Bagan SG
2-1 Maziya SRC
AFC Cup 2022: Mohun Bagan SG
5-2 Maziya SRC
AFC Cup 2021: Maziya SRC
1-3 Mohun Bagan SG
AFC Cup 2017: Maziya SRC
5-2 Mohun Bagan SG
AFC Cup 2017: Mohun Bagan SG
0-1 Maziya SRC
AFC Cup 2016: Mohun Bagan SG
5-2 Maziya SRC
Prediction:
Maziya SRC 2-2 Mohun Bagan
Maziya would love to end a promising
yet disappointing AFC Cup campaign with a victory. They would likely start with
their primary players, establish a comfortable lead and then play their own
youngsters and reserves too. If that happens, that would probably give Mohun
Bagan a chance to score one or two, late into the game, especially when Suhail and
Fardin possibly are going to be part of the squad.
Possible Line-ups:
Mohun Bagan SG: Arsh (GK), Amandeep, Raj, Sumit, Ravi Rana, Deepak (C), Hnamte, Abhishek, Taison, Fardin, Suhail
Maziya Sports and Recreation:
Shareef (GK), Shifaz, Jocic, Ali (c), Gamal, Obeng, Wada, Aisham, Raif,
Mohamed, Balabanovic
Kick Off: 11th Dec 2023; 3:30
PM IST
Live Stream: Sports 18 1,
3(TV) and Fancode (OTT)
Venue: National Football
Stadium, Male, Maldives
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