Malé: ATK Mohun Bagan need just a draw to advance into the AFC Cup 2021 Inter-Zonal semifinals when they face Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh in the final group encounter at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
With maximum points from their two matches, ATK Mohun Bagan are leading Group D ahead of Kings who are at second with four points. A point on Tuesday will be enough for the Kolkata-based side to be crowned South Zonal champions and enter the next stage, thus becoming the first India Super League side to do so.
Having made it to the group stages directly, ATKMB continued their domination as they defeated compatriots Bengaluru FC 3-0 before making a striking comeback against local favourites Maziya Sports & Recreation. All the Indian side have to do is escape a loss.
ATKMB head coach Antonio Lopez Habas will have a lot in the line with this game while their neighbours aim try their best to keep the prestige of Bangladeshi football. The Mariners will be without the services of Deepan Tangri who picked up an injury against Maziya.
Hugo Boumous, who joined ATKMB this season after winning the Indian Super League with Mumbai City FC in the last previous edition, will also be outside following a second yellow he received against Maziya. However, Habas, who has a variated squad with high talent quotient, have nothing to worry about.
With Amrinder Singh under the bars and players like Ashutosh Mehta, Pritam Kotal, Carl McHugh, Manvir Singh, Subhashish Bose, and crowd favourite Roy Krishna ATKMB are expected to roar against the Kings.
For Kings, it will be a do-or-die situation with Brazilian forward Robinho being the main source of inspiration in the attack. Although he couldn’t do much against Bengaluru FC, Robinho is expected to have a tough game time against the ATK Mohun Bagan backline.
If Kings are to win the game, they will have to keep a check on Krishna and Australian David Williams. Williams’ unpredictable movements can be of great threat to the opponents, while the Bangladesh Premier League champions will also need to be wary about Fiji international Krishna, who is the leading scorer in the group.
“I don’t like to talk about favourites, because football is full of complications. We have good professional players, very disciplined and tactical on the pitch. They have the opportunity to learn every day and I am happy with the performances of my players,” Habas said.
“They are a good team, we give them maximum respect. The most important thing for us is not to concede a goal, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any attacks. We have to find the balance. We know that this is a decisive match and we have to give 100 per cent on the pitch.”
Kings head coach Oscar Bruzon is confident of beating ATKMB. “I think (the match-up) is very balanced. Both teams are the only clubs to have the opportunity to qualify for the next round,” Bruzon said.
“Tomorrow is going to be another long 90 minutes. If we are smart and wait for our opportunities, I’m sure we can bag the three points. Our confidence is that we only lost one match this season, and I don’t think tomorrow will be the second.”
