Mohun Bagan Super Giants (MBSG) defeated Dhaka Abahani by 3-1 in Kolkata to qualify for the AFC Cup 2023 group stage. Dhaka Abahani were the first team to score at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati but Mohun Bagan bounced back with a solid response via a Jason Cummings penalty, an own goal from Milad and Sadiku’s debut goal for the Mariners. 

The home side started the match on a flying note with Jason Cummings missing an early chance inside the first two minutes of the game. Liston provided a great ball from the left wing towards the Aussie forward who did not do justice to the cross. But, Dhaka Abahani was not ready to give away easy space to Bagan with Emeka doing all the hard work from the left wing to provide an early chance for the visitors. In the 8th minute of the game, Sahal missed Bagan’s second chance. Jason Cummings’ undercut had found Sahal inside the box who could not finish the job for the mariners.

Dhaka Abahani drew the first blood in the match against the run of play. Vishal Kaith made a huge miss and Cornelius Ezekiel was there to tap in for the first goal of the match in the 17th minute. But Bagan did not give up. After a flurry of attacks, the green-and maroon brigade finally obtained the equalizer via a penalty in the 36th minute following Sushanto Tripura’s foul to Liston Colaco inside the box. Jason Cummings found the net from the spot with an accurate spot-kick to hit the left corner of the net.

The second half started with both teams playing it safe in the midfield until MBSG took the lead through a suicidal goal from Milad Soleimani in 58th minute. Two minutes on, Jason Cummings looked for his second goal via a great left-footed shot from outside the box. But, Shaidul came in between him and the goal to deny the goal.

Armando Sadiku finally sealed opposition’s fate striking the third goal for the winners and his debut goal for Mariners in the 61st minute from a delicious pass from Jason Cummings from the left.