Picture Credit: Twitter
ATK Mohun Bagan will play their inter-zone semifinal of the AFC Cup on September 7 at the Salt Lake Stadium, the club announced on Thursday. The Mariners will face champions of the Asian Zone that will be either from Indonesia, Malaysia, or Vietnam. Notably, Mohun Bagan finished second in the ISL last season but qualified for the continental level after Mumbai City FC lifted both the League Winners' Shield and the ISL Trophy.
The club shared the news through a social media post. “We will play our AFC Cup Inter Zone Semifinal at the Salt Lake Stadium on 7th September 2022! Be there, Mariners!” wrote ATK Mohun Bagan on Twitter.
The Green and Maroon brigade did not have the best of starts to their AFC Cup campaign. They lost 2-4 to Gokulam Kerala in their first group-stage match. However, they made a comeback against Bashundhara Kings and notched up a clean win (4-0). Mohun Bagan then progressed to the inter-zone semifinal playoff of the tournament with a thumping 5-2 win over Maziya SC.
ATK Mohun Bagan finished the group stage with six points, the same as Bashundhara Kings. However, Juan Ferrando's side topped the table on the basis of their superior head-to-head and goal difference. Notably, ATKMB had a goal difference of 5 while Bashundhara Kings had a goal difference of -2.
Mohun Bagan get stronger with the arrival of Florentin Pogba
ATK Mohun Bagan has bolstered its ranks by signing two defenders, Guinean Florentin Pogba and Australian Brendan Hamill. Notably, the Indian Super League (ISL) giant completed the signing of Florentin Pogba, elder brother of Paul Pogba on 24 June on a two-year deal.
Australian A-League star defender Brendan Hamill also signed in a two-year deal but for an undisclosed transfer fee. Another couple of noticeable changes for ATK Mohun Bagan are the departures of forwards David Williams and Roy Krishna.