The football players of "Ahal" had a successful start in the AFC Champions League Two by winning their first Group C match against India's "Mohun Bagan" with a score of 1-0.
The game took place in Kolkata at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan stadium in the presence of 41,003 spectators. The winning goal for the Turkmenistan vice-champions was scored in the 83rd minute by 19-year-old Enver Annayev, who came on as a substitute in the second half.
"Mohun Bagan Super Giant" from Kolkata, West Bengal, India, is one of the oldest football clubs in Asia. It was founded on August 15, 1889. On their centenary year, they received the special title "National Club of India" in recognition of their contributions to the Indian state.
The "Kolkata Giants," as "Mohun Bagan's" footballers are called, are participating in the AFC Champions League Two for the second consecutive year as the champions of the Indian Super League 2024/25. In the previous edition, the team was withdrawn from the AFC Champions League 2024/25 after refusing to travel to Iran for a match against "Tractor" citing security concerns. Last season in the Indian Super League, "Mohun Bagan" finished with 56 points from 24 matches, eight points ahead of second-placed "Goa," which secured the Indian champion a direct spot in the AFC Champions League 2025/26.
Last month, "Mohun Bagan" lost to their fierce rival "East Bengal" 1-2 in the Durand Cup, an annual prestigious football tournament in India, which is the oldest in Asia, held since 1888. However, since then, the team received reinforcements including Brazilian forward Robson Robinho and several other players.
Before the game against "Ahal," the Indian champion boasted six foreign players in their squad, including several Australians who previously participated in the World Cup. One of them, Jamie Maclaren, made history in the Australian league as the player with the most goals scored.
Having won almost everything in India, the most expensive football team in the country was to test their strength in a match against the team of the Main Directorate "Turkmennebitonumleri," which is competing for second place in the Turkmenistan championship. Before the match with "Ahal," "Mohun Bagan's" head coach since last year, 55-year-old Spanish specialist José Molina, was determined to leave his mark in Asia.
"We want to prove to everyone that we are not just a great team in India, but we can compete in Asia and try to achieve something outstanding. And the match with 'Ahal' is a good opportunity to show that we welcome this chance," said the Spaniard at the pre-match press conference.
The match started nervously for the hosts: "Ahal" created a threat as early as the 2nd minute when Suleyman Mirzoyev burst into the penalty area, but the ball after his shot flew past the goal.
In the 13th minute, the Indian team launched a sharp counterattack, but shots from Liston Colaco and Sahal Abdul Samad were blocked.
In the 32nd minute, the Indian champion had a difficult moment when the ball, after a cross from Magtymberdi Berenov, ricocheted off the left post.
A good chance for the hosts came in the last quarter of the first half when Sahal delivered an excellent pass to Jason Cummings, but the Australian forward failed to finish the shot.
In the second half, "Ahal" sought to control the game, using short passes and quick transitions in attack. A great opportunity to open the scoring appeared for the visitors in the 57th minute when M. Berenov made a brilliant run, penetrated into "Mohun Bagan's" penalty area, but goalkeeper Vishal Kaith parried his low shot.
"Mohun Bagan" looked better in attack when José Molina switched from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2 formation bringing on Jamie Maclaren and Anirudh Thapa in the 58th minute.
In the 59th minute, Jamie Maclaren almost opened the score with his first touch, but "Ahal" goalkeeper Kakageldi Berdiyev brilliantly saved the shot with his foot. However, the Australian was offside.
In the 69th minute, "Mohun Bagan" players created the best scoring chance of the match with a combination in the opponent’s penalty area. Cummings, receiving an excellent pass from Thapa, delivered a precise pass to Maclaren at the far post. He tried to shoot on the run, but K. Berdiyev stood firm and brilliantly saved again.
In the 71st minute, after a corner kick, Alberto struck dangerously with a spin, but the ball flew over the crossbar of the Turkmen team.
The turning point of the match came in the 83rd minute when substitutes Bashim Gurbanberdiyev and Enver Annayev, who had come on four minutes earlier, executed a magnificent two-pass play on the left flank. Gurbanberdiyev delivered a perfect through ball between two defenders to Annayev, who, at a sharp angle, accurately struck low into the far corner.
"The 'Ahal' team, having no foreign players in their squad, silenced 41,003 spectators gathered at the local stadium in Kolkata, which after the defeat to East Bengal in the Durand Cup is no longer a fortress for the Indian champion. The Turkmen footballers finished the game with greater ball possession (57%), more shots on goal (12), and more shots on target (5). They completed 506 passes against 377 by 'Mohun Bagan,'" summarized the popular Indian newspaper "Hindustan Times" about the match.
Recall that "Ahal" is the first Turkmen football club to have twice participated in the AFC Champions League. In 2022, "Ahal" represented Turkmenistan for the first time in the main Asian club football competition. At the two-round tournament held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, featuring four clubs from Turkmenistan, Iran, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, the team of the Main Directorate "Turkmennebitonumleri" achieved their first-ever win in the AFC Champions League by defeating the Qatari "Al-Gharafa" 4-2. In their debut match in this prestigious Asian club competition, they also took points from the 2015 AFC Champions League finalist and UAE bronze medalist "Shabab Al-Ahli" from Dubai by drawing 1-1. Overall, after six matches, "Ahal" finished 4th in Group C with 4 points, behind "Al-Gharafa" (5 points), "Shabab Al-Ahli" (10 points), and Iranian "Foolad" (12 points).
In 2023, "Ahal" made a second attempt to compete for Asia's premier club trophy, finishing fourth in Group A, competing with "Al-Ain" (UAE), "Al-Fayha" (Saudi Arabia), and "Pakhtakor" (Uzbekistan).
This season, FC "Ahal" reached the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two through the playoffs by beating Tajikistan's "Regar-TadAZ" from Tursunzade 2-1 away.
The AFC Champions League Two, organized by the Asian Football Confederation, is the second-tier continental club tournament, ranking just below the AFC Champions League Elite.
Recall that the current group tournament of the AFC Champions League Two, formerly called the AFC Cup, includes 32 teams from 22 countries, divided geographically into two zones – West and East.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16, matches scheduled from February 10 to 19, 2026. Quarterfinals will be held from March 3 to 12, semifinals from April 7 to 15, and the final on May 16, 2026.
In another match of Group C, Jordan’s "Al-Hussein" won in Amman in front of 1,542 spectators against Iran’s "Sepahan" 1-0 thanks to a winning goal by Khrouba in the 28th minute.
Thus, after the first round in this group, "Ahal" and "Al-Hussein" lead with 3 points. "Mohun Bagan" and "Sepahan" have no points so far.
The next match in the AFC Champions League Two for "Ahal" will be on September 30 at the stadium in Arkadag city against "Al-Hussein." On the same day in another Group C match, "Sepahan" will play "Mohun Bagan" in Iran.
turkmenistan.gov.tm
