AFC Cup: Bagan takes on Abahani; Bengaluru aims for qualification

Mohun Bagan and Dhaka Abahani Limited will lock horns in an inconsequential AFC Cup Group E match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Wednesday.

Both sides are out of the competition and will play for pride. While Bagan are third in the four-team group table with six points from five matches, Dhaka Abahani are rock-bottom having just three points from five outings.

Sanjoy Sen's away side, who lost to Bengaluru FC 0-2 in the Federation Cup final and weeks earlier finished second in the I-League behind surprise winners Aizawl FC, will be without star marksman Haitian Sony Norde who did not travel with the team.

In the previous meeting of the two sides at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium, Bagan won 3-1 courtesy goals from Balwant Singh, Norde and Jeje Lalpekhlua.

The AFC Cup has never been Bagan's priority and many a times Sen has fielded second string sides in the group league matches.

"I'm a bit relaxed now. We will try our best to grab three points from the game and the boys are motivated," Sen told reporters in Kolkata before travelling to Dhaka.

Bagan failed to win a single trophy this season despite coming close on two occassions. Darryl Duffy, their scottish striker, expressed disappointment.

"I can't forget the goal I missed at Aizawl. That still pricks me all the time. But Mohun Bagan will remain special to me because this has been the best team I have played so far in India," Duffy said.

"If they want to retain me, I am ready to play. But right now the future of Indian leagues are in a lot of doubt. We just have to wait and see," Duffy added.

Meanwhile, hot on the heels of their Federation Cup triumph in Cuttack, an upbeat Bengaluru FC will be eyeing qualification to the next round when they take on Maziya Sports & Recreation in a Group E AFC Cup tie at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

Bengaluru, who beat Mohun Bagan to win their second Federation Cup title, need to win against Maldives' Maziya to have a shot at the round of 16.

Bengaluru became the first Indian team to reach the final of the same competition last time and would be eager to repeat their performance this time around as well.

Maziya are on 12 points already, with Bengaluru on nine, but the advantage Bengaluru have despite their poor goal difference (six scored and six conceded) is that the first differentiating factor will be the head-to-head record between the two teams.

When the two teams met in Male on April 4, a John Johnson winner in injury time had given Bengaluru a 1-0 away win.

C.K. Vineeth whose double helped Bengaluru win the Fed Cup will be the cynosure of all eyes. The Kerala lad has been in hot form in front of goal and without the likes of skipper Sunil Chhetri and promising youngster Udanta Singh -- both of whom are injured -- a lot of responsibility will lie on the former United SC striker.

Cameron Watson missed the Fed Cup final through suspension, but should return to partner Euguenson Lyngdoh at the centre of midfield.

Coming to the away side, Maziya are the reigning league champions of Maldives, and have lived up to that billing by logging four wins in their first five matches of the AFC Cup group thus far.

They have beaten Mohun Bagan twice. Striker Mohamed Umair has been outstanding throughout the group stages and is a constant threat to opposition defenders.

Maziya just need a draw to qualify as one team makes it to the next round.