Mohun Bagan vs Ahal FK, AFC Champions League 2, AS IT HAPPENED: Mohun Bagan Super Giant suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Ahal FK in Kolkata. The first half saw both sides cancel each other out, with Ahal hitting the post once. The Mariners pushed harder after the break, with Maclaren, Samad missing golden chances.
Youngster, Enwer Annayew struck in the 83rd minute to give Ahal the lead. Despite late pressure and added time, Mohun Bagan couldn't find an equaliser. Ahal took all three points, while the Mariners were left ruing missed opportunities.
While many ISL clubs remain inactive, Mohun Bagan has spent the off-season strengthening its squad with new additions. The Mariners, aiming to make a mark in Asia, have recruited six foreign players along
with domestic signings such as Mehtab Singh and Abhishek Singh. Head coach Antonio López Habas, twice a title-winner in Indian football, now faces the task of guiding the Kolkata side towards continental success.
Taking advantage of AFC regulations that permit unlimited foreign signings, the club has retained key overseas names from last season - Jamie Maclaren, Jason Cummings, and Dimitrios Petratos up front, with Tom Aldred and Alberto Rodriguez at the back. Brazilian midfielder Robson Robinho has also joined to take over playmaking duties from Greg Stewart, who departed after the last ISL campaign.
The Mariners will, however, miss forward Manvir Singh due to injury, though Anirudh Thapa and Subhasish Bose return to the fold after short lay-offs. Opponents Ahal, despite not registering any foreign recruits, arrive with six Turkmen internationals and a reputation for disciplined football. Kolkata fans are no strangers to the threat posed by Turkmen sides, having seen Arkadag FK eliminate East Bengal from the AFC Challenge League earlier this year.
For Mohun Bagan, this will be its first competitive outing since bowing out of the Durand Cup quarterfinals against East Bengal. The team has since had nearly a month to fine-tune preparations, and will look to shake off early-season rust. Ahal, former winners of Turkmenistan's Yokary League, are the Mariners' first hurdle in a group that also features Sepahan SC (Iran) and Al-Hussein SC (Jordan). The round-robin stage continues until late December, offering Mohun Bagan a real chance to prove its credentials beyond domestic football.
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