On a dream run in the domestic season, I-League champions Mohun Bagan would look to maintain their unbeaten streak and remain top of the group in the AFC Cup football tournament when they take on Yangon United of Myanmar here tomorrow.
Mohun Bagan have been on a roll this season, having remained unbeaten for 11 matches in I-League, besides tasting victory in both the continental AFC Cup matches, and they would look to continue their impressive form against the visiting Myanmar side at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium.
The Kolkata side, which is playing here after Salt Lake Stadium has been locked down in view of next year’s FIFA Under-17 World Cup, has scored easy victories over Maziya Sports & Recreation of Maldives and South China of Hong Kong to be on top of Group G with six points.
The reigning I-League champions had an easy outing in their opening match as they drubbed Maziya Sports & Recreation at the same venue 5-2 here on February 24 before thrashing South China on May 9 in their first away match of the tournament.
Mohun Bagan are understandably high on confidence but they will have to guard against complacency as tomorrow’s match is expected to be the toughest so far in their AFC Cup campaign.
Yangon United are on second spot in the group with one win (against South China) and a draw (against Maziya Sports & Recreation).
Mohun Bagan are also without Trinidadian striker Cornell Glen who suffered a groin injury during his side’s 2-0 win over Mumbai FC in their last I-League match, though the ‘Mariners’ will have the services of head coach Sanjoy Sen who has been handed eight-match domestic ban by the AIFF for his outbursts against AIFF.
A win tomorrow would further increase Mohun Bagan’s (six points) two-point lead over Yangon United (four) to five and that would give the Kolkata side virtually a place in the knockout phase of the continent’s second tier club competition.
