ATK Mohun Bagan certified for the knockout stage of the AFC Cup after a 1-1 standoff with Bangladesh champions Bashundhara Kings in a Group D match right here on Tuesday.
The Indian membership made it to the inter-regional semi-finals of the second tier continental event because the South Asian zone champions.
Brazil midfielder Jonathan Fernandes (28′) put the Bangladeshi staff forward within the first half earlier than teammate Sushanto Tripura (45+2′) was despatched off at half-time.
Assisted by a Liston Colaco cross, Australian ahead David Williams (62′) equalized with seven factors to high the Bagan group, because the Kings completed second with 5 factors.
Kings had been diminished to 10 males in stoppage time of the primary half when their proper wing Tripura had been proven the purple card.
This was the primary time since 2018 that an Indian staff has made it to the zonal semi-finals. Bagan will play the winners of Nasaf of Uzbekistan and Ahal of Turkmenistan on September 22.
ATKMB wanted a win or a draw in opposition to Bashundhara, whereas the Bangladeshi outfit wanted a win.
Bagan struggled early in opposition to a strain recreation from a decided Kings and later regained management of the match when Fernandes didn’t give rival goalkeeper Amarinder Singh an opportunity.
Both the groups had few possibilities within the first quarter.
Searching for an equalizer in his quest to keep away from elimination, Bagan discovered one after a change of finish when the Kings appeared on the defensive with a person.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
