Mohun Bagan Super Giant did not rise to expectations because it went down by a solitary objective to Turkmenistan aspect Ahal FK within the opening Group-C fixture of the AFC Champions League 2 on the Salt Lake Stadium right here on Tuesday.
Substitute Enver Annayev discovered the winner for Ahal within the 83rd minute because the customer wrapped up the total factors to go away the house group surprised.
Mohun Bagan, the Indian Super League double crown winner, struggled for type and route and ultimately paid the worth for its inconsistent efficiency. On the opposite hand Ahal confirmed a extra cohesive and disciplined method, and walked away because the deserving winner.
Mohun Bagan may barely reproduce the sharpness and fluidity in its assault that fetched it the ISL League Shield and the Cup a few months in the past. The residence group gave the impression to be underprepared for the event as its head coach Jose Molina selected to maintain a variety of his first-choice choices on the bench, which contributed to its reasonable exhibiting for the higher a part of the motion.
Molina did carry up some adjustments close to the hour mark however that was not sufficient to change the scoreline in favour of the house aspect. Instead, Ahal gained from a couple of late introductions in its assault as substitutes Bashim Gurbanberdiyev and Annayev mixed effectively to carry up the decisive objective.
The end result: Mohun Bagan SG 0 misplaced to Ahal FK 1 (Enver Annayev 83).
