Mohun Bagan SG began their AFC Champions League 2 campaign with a goalless draw against FC Ravshan on Wednesday at the Yuva Bharati Stadium in Kolkata. Despite dominating possession and creating several opportunities in the second half, Mohun Bagan SG failed to capitalize, settling for just a point in their opening match.
Fans’ Expectations Turn to Frustration
Before the match, fans unfurled banners that read, “Tradition, Emotion, Unity. The boat sails forward.” However, as the final whistle blew with the scoreline unchanged, frustration grew, and it seemed fitting to modify the chant to, “Tradition, Emotion, Unity. The boat is stuck.” Discontent was evident as chants of “Molina Go Back” echoed through the stadium, expressing dissatisfaction with coach Jose Molina.
Molina’s reign at Mohun Bagan SG has not been without setbacks, and Wednesday’s result added to the growing concerns. Despite playing at home and being the stronger side on paper, Mohun Bagan SG struggled against Ravshan, a team from Tajikistan with a significantly lower market value and international reputation. The likes of Australian World Cupper Jamie Maclaren, who boasts a market value of INR 12 crore, were overshadowed by Ravshan’s foreign players, none of whom are valued at over INR 2 crore.
Surprising Lineup Choices
Molina raised eyebrows with his starting XI selection. In a competition where there is no limit to the number of foreign players a team can field, he opted to start with only three foreigners: Tom Aldred in defense, Jason Cummings, and Dimitri Petratos in attack. Star players like Greg Stewart and Jamie Maclaren were left on the bench, with Maclaren never making it onto the pitch, much to the dismay of the 18,908 fans in attendance.
First Half Struggles
The game began with FC Ravshan dictating the tempo. For the first 10 minutes, they launched wave after wave of attacks, though none resulted in a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Mohun Bagan SG’s first meaningful attack came in the 14th minute when Manvir Singh received the ball from Ashish Rai, but Ravshan’s Ofori quickly neutralized the threat.
Mohun Bagan SG attempted to break through Ravshan’s defense with short, quick passes, and in the 19th minute, a chance fell to Petratos after a pass from Manvir. However, Ravshan’s defenders closed him down, and the opportunity was wasted.
A reckless challenge by Dipendu Biswas in the 21st minute nearly resulted in a red card. He received only a yellow for a dangerous two-footed tackle on Andriy Markovych. Ravshan capitalized on the ensuing free kick, but Nazarov’s attempt narrowly missed the goal.
Second Half: Missed Opportunities
Ravshan started the second half with intent, attacking the Mohun Bagan SG defense, but they couldn’t find a way past a solid Bagan backline. Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan SG’s attacks continued to fizzle out in the final third.
In the 64th minute, Molina brought on Liston Colaco and Apuia to inject some energy into the midfield. Colaco made a few promising runs, and in the 76th minute, a golden opportunity fell to Jason Cummings. Following a defensive error by Ravshan, Cummings found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but failed to convert, his tame effort easily saved by Ravshan’s keeper, Hrytsenko.
Late in the match, Mohun Bagan SG had several more chances. In the 86th minute, a botched clearance by Ravshan’s goalkeeper gave Petratos a brief chance, but Ofori was quick to clear the danger. A minute later, Colaco received the ball from Stewart, only to miss a clear shot at goal. Petratos thought he had finally broken the deadlock in the 88th minute, only to see his goal ruled offside.
Final Whistle: Points Dropped
Mohun Bagan SG had more chances to score during added time, with another opportunity falling to Cummings, but it was not to be. The match ended 0-0, leaving Mohun Bagan SG to reflect on missed chances and an underwhelming performance.
As the fans left the stadium, there was a palpable sense of frustration. The draw was not the result they had hoped for, especially against an opponent like Ravshan, a team considered to be weaker on paper. If Mohun Bagan SG is to progress in this competition, they will need to improve their finishing and make the most of their star-studded lineup in future games.
