Kolkata, Sep 18 (PTI) – The AFC Champions League II campaign for Mohun Bagan commenced on a frustrating note as they were held to a goalless draw by Tajikistan’s FC Ravshan at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday. Despite dominating possession and crafting numerous opportunities, the ISL Shield champions failed to score, much to the disappointment of their 18,908-strong home crowd.

The stands echoed with chants of “Go Back Molina” as fans voiced their displeasure at the team’s performance under Spanish coach Juan Ferrando. The team’s recent performances have been under intense scrutiny, with this latest setback following a series of poor results, including squandering two-goal leads in their last two matches and a heartbreaking loss to NorthEast United FC in the Durand Cup final.

Mohun Bagan started energetically, controlling possession and pushing the Kulob-based side into a defensive stance. However, their inability to convert possession into tangible scoring opportunities became the evening’s narrative. In the 19th minute, Dimitri Petratos had a golden chance, weaving past two defenders to shoot, only for Ravshan’s backline to block his effort before it reached the goal.

The first real scare for Mohun Bagan came in the 28th minute when Kojo Matic sent a clever ball over their defense, giving Muhammaddjon Rahimov a shooting opportunity. Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith pulled off a crucial save to keep the score level. Shortly after, a reckless foul by Dippendu Biswas handed Ravshan a free-kick, but Kholomurd Nazarov’s attempt went wide, serving as a warning for Ferrando’s men. Ashish Rai’s yellow card in the 29th minute for a reckless challenge epitomized Mohun Bagan’s frustration as they ended the first half without a shot on target.

In the second half, Subhasish Bose had an opportunity from a set-piece, but Ravshan’s defense was resolute. The defining moment came in the 76th minute when Jason Cummings found himself one-on-one with Ravshan goalkeeper Yevhen Hrytsenko but wasted the opportunity with a weak shot aimed directly at the keeper.

As the match neared its end, Mohun Bagan showed renewed vigor. In the 88th minute, Petratos thought he had broken the deadlock after slotting the ball into the net from a Greg Stewart pass, only for the goal to be ruled offside. Two minutes later, Petratos went down in the box after receiving a through ball from Stewart, but the referee waved away penalty appeals. Moments later, Liston Colaco had another golden chance after being set up by Stewart, but his right-footed effort curled wide of the target, summing up a frustrating evening for Mohun Bagan.

FC Ravshan, runners-up in the 2023 Tajikistan Higher League, qualified for the group stage and have made four previous appearances in the AFC Cup but have yet to advance past the group stage. The AFC Champions League II (formerly AFC Cup) is Asia’s second-tier club football competition with a new format where 32 teams compete in eight groups in a home-and-away format from September 17 to December 5. Mohun Bagan earned a direct spot in Group A after clinching the ISL 2023-24 Shield with a record 48 points and are competing alongside Al Wakrah SC, Tractor SC, and FC Ravshan. The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16, with the final scheduled for May 17.