Kolkata, May 17 (FN Agency) A stiff contest is on the card in the Group Stage action begins in the continental football of AFC Cup when locals and Group D contenders ATK Mohun Bagan will face Gokulam Kerala FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium here on Wednesday, before Maziya Sports & Recreation of the Maldives take on Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings at the same venue four hours later. Gokulam Kerala reigned supreme for the second successive year in just concluded I-League making history in Indian domestic championship by winning the silverware for the second year in a row in its 15-season history with a 2-1 win over Mohammedan SC on Saturday in this city. Needing only a point against the second placed Mohammedan in front of 47,000 fans, the side from football-loving Kerala went one better, earning a 2-1 triumph thanks to a pair of second half goals from Rishad and Emil Benny.
The result sealed a superb domestic season for Gokulam, who lost just one of 18 I-League matches, with Luka Majcen and Jourdaine Fletcher adding 22 goals between them, and goalkeeper Rakshit Dagar contributing seven clean sheets. History made on the home front, the club’s focus now turns to Wednesday’s AFC Cup group stage kick off against Indian Super League outfit ATK Mohun Bagan. with Maziya Sport and Recreation Club, as well in the same group. The Kolkata outfit is also all set to start their AFC Cup 2022 campaign at home against their Indian side Gokulam Kerala in the first match, before going on to play against Maziya S&RC and Bashundhara Kings. The Mariners will be full of energy as they’re playing in front of their home crowd. But expectations will also be rife. They are expected to win the group, being the favorites after all.
While every single ATKMB player has to bring their very best to the table, there are certain individuals who will decide their fate in the group stages. A few ATK Mohun Bagan players excelled in the last Indian Super League (ISL) and recent AFC Cup qualifiers. There will be a lot of responsibility on their shoulders to get the team over the line in the group stages too. With Manvir Singh in the front as his play under the stewardship Juan Ferrando improved much as his performances in the AFC Cup qualifiers proved that he is only getting better at it. Singh scored a brace in ATK-MB’s 5-0 win over Blue Star in their first AFC Cup qualifying game. He also put in a hard-working shift in the 3-1 win over Dhaka Abahani, allowing Prabir Das beside him to thrive. Fijian striker Roy Krishna, midfielder Liston Colaco ,Joni Kauko and central defender Sandesh Jhingan are to be seen in action before the home crowd at the play which will start at 4 30 pm IST.