After a poor opening game to start their 2022 AFC Champions League campaign, Mumbai City FC bounced back with a 2-1 win against Al-Quawa Al-Jawiya to become the first-ever Indian club to win a game in the competition.
The 2020-21 Indian Super League champions did not get off to the best starts in the AFC Champions League as they lost their opening match against Saudi Arabia’s AL Shabab, but they made a roaring comeback against Iraq’s Air Force Club to get back in the competition. With this victory, Mumbai City FC created history by becoming the first Indian club to bag three points in the AFC Champions League as they fought their way back from a goal down to beat the Iraqi Air Force club 2-1.
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After a quite first half of the game, Hammadi Ahmad of the Air Force club broke the deadlock in the 59th minute. In response, Mumbai City FC’s 30-year-old Brazilian striker, Diego Mauricio scored from the spot in the 70th minute after he was brought down in the box. Following the equaliser, the side from Iraq found themselves on the back foot for the first time in the game and Mumbai capitalised on it. Just 5 minutes later, Rahul Bheke, became the first-ever Indian to score in the AFC Champions League as he headed home from a corner.
# | CLUBS | PLAYED | WON | LOST | POINTS |
1 | Al Shabab | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
2 | Mumbai City FC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
3 | Al Quwa Al Jawiya | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
4 | Al Jazira | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
With that historic victory, Des Buckingham’s men move level on three points with Air Force Club and are just three adrift of Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab who picked up their second win in a row with a 3-0 victory over Al Jazira of UAE.
With 4 games more to play, the tournament is far from over for the Islanders as they get to take on AL Shabab again and potentially snatch top spot and secure direct qualification for the next stage with a victory over the Saudi Arabian club.. If MCFC stay second, they will have to play a qualifier to advance to the next stage.
Mumbai City FC’s remaining fixtures in the competition:
FIXTURES | DATES |
Al Jazira vs Mumbai City FC | 14th April, 10:45 pm |
Mumbai City FC vs Al Jazira | 18th April, 10:45 pm |
Al Shabab vs Mumbai City FC | 23rd April, 1:45 am |
Mumbai City FC vs Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 27th April, 1:45 am |
[Featured Image Credit: Mumbai City FC]
Shashank Iyer