Misfiring Mohun Bagan held to 0-0 draw by FC Ravshan in ACL-II opener
Mohun Bagan’s AFC Champions League Two campaign began on a frustrating note as they played out a goalless draw against Tajikistan’s FC Ravshan at Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday. Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, the ISL Shield champions were unable to find the back of the net, squandering opportunities in front of 18,908 home supporters. Discontent was palpable in the stands, with chants of “Go Back Molina” echoing as the players made their way to the dugout.
Under increasing scrutiny, the team’s recent performances have raised concerns, especially following their last two matches in which they squandered two-goal leads, including a heartbreaking loss to NorthEast United FC in the Durand Cup final—marking their opponents’ first-ever title win. The pressure is mounting on coach Molina as the team struggles to find form.
Mohun Bagan started strongly, pushing the Kulob-based side into a defensive position. However, their failure to convert possession into clear scoring opportunities quickly became evident. In the 19th minute, Dimitri Petratos had the best chance of the half, skillfully weaving past two defenders only to see his shot blocked by Ravshan’s defense.
VISHAL KAITH STANDS TALL
The first real scare for Mohun Bagan came in the 28th minute when Kojo Matic delivered a clever ball over the defense, giving Muhammaddjon Rahimov a chance to shoot. Fortunately for Bagan, goalkeeper Vishal Kaith was alert, making a crucial save to keep the score level. Moments later, Dippendu Biswas committed a needless foul, allowing Ravshan a free-kick, though Kholomurd Nazarov’s attempt went wide, signaling warning signs for Juan Ferrando’s men.
Frustration mounted for Bagan as Ashish Rai received a yellow card for a reckless challenge in the 29th minute. Despite their control of the game, the Mariners ended the first half without a shot on target.
In the second half, Subhasish Bose had an opportunity from a set-piece, but Ravshan’s defense held firm. The turning point arrived in the 76th minute when Jason Cummings found himself one-on-one with Ravshan goalkeeper Yevhen Hrytsenko, but he squandered the chance with a weak shot aimed directly at the keeper.
As time ran out, the Mariners finally generated some late chances. In the 88th minute, Petratos thought he had scored when he slotted the ball into the net after a pass from Greg Stewart, but the goal was ruled offside, much to the dismay of the home crowd.
In the 90th minute, Petratos was again involved, going down in the box after a through ball from Stewart, but the referee waved away the penalty appeals. Shortly after, Liston Colaco had another golden opportunity, but his right-footed shot curled wide, encapsulating a frustrating evening for Mohun Bagan.
Ravshan entered the group stage as runners-up of the 2023 Tajikistan Higher League, having made four previous appearances in the AFC Cup without advancing past the group stage. The ACL-II, formerly the AFC Cup, is Asia’s second-tier club football competition, now formatted into two zones—East and West—with 32 teams competing in eight groups from September 17 to December 5.
Mohun Bagan, who clinched the ISL 2023-24 Shield with a record 48 points for a direct spot, are in Group A alongside Al Wakrah SC, Tractor SC, and FC Ravshan. The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16, with the final scheduled for May 17.
