Manang out of AFC Cup

Published On: June 20, 2019 10:59 AM NPT

Abahani Dhaka’s Kervens Belfort (right) dribbles the ball past Manang Marshyangdi Club’s Devendra Tamang during their AFC Cup Group E match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Wednesday. Photo Courtesy: AFC Cup/Twitter

KATHMANDU, June 20: A-Division League winner Manang Marshyangdi Club has been knocked out of the AFC Cup as it suffered a humbling 5-0 defeat at the hands of Bangladeshi club Abahani Dhaka at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Bangladesh on Wednesday.

Abahani was dominative throughout the match and capitalized its chances into goals scoring two in the first half and three in the second. Manang could not handle the pressure, but did have certain time on the ball. It could not produce a chance to score and therefore, was knocked out of the tournament.

Nabib Newaj Jibon gave Abahani the lead in the 11th minute as he took the ball from Saheed Azeez and hit a shot from inside the post to beat Manang keeper Bishal Shrestha. Kervens Belfort took advantage of another sloppy defensive error from Manang as he controlled the ball in the middle of the park, took the entire defense on his own flat-footing Devendra Tamang and put the ball past a forward-coming Shrestha in the second minute of the first half injury time.

Jewel Rana was one of the five different goalscorers for the Bangladesh Football Premier League champion as he tapped in a low cross from Sohel Rana from inside the box in the 63rd minute, while Sunday Chizoba took advantage of a mistake from keeper Shrestha as he could not push away the shot of Mohummad Mamun Miah. Chizoba guided the ball into the post. Mamunul Islam rounded off a fantastic victory for Abahani scoring from outside the box.

Abahani is at the top of the Group E table 10 points from five games, while Manang is at the foot of the table with two points from the same number of games. Indian sides Minerva Punjab and Chhenaiyin Football Club shared the spoils of a 1-1 draw and shared a point each. Chhenaiyin has eight points from five games as well, while Minerva is third with five points.

The winner of the group will play in the Inter-Zone Play-Off semifinals.

Manang will now invite Chhenaiyin in the last round of the group at the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Complex on June 26, while Minerva and Abahani will take on each other later on the same day to settle the group.