ATKMB take on Uzbekistan's FC Nasaf

AFC Cup inter-zone semifinal

QARSHI: Indian Super League (ISL) side ATK Mohun Bagan will eye a place in the AFC Cup inter-zone final when they take on Uzbekistan's FC Nasaf in their inter-zone semifinal at the Markaziy Stadium on Wednesday.

ATKMB last played in August in their Group D-South Zone campaign in the Maldives and despite insufficient training in the lead-up, they gave a good account of themselves. They beat fellow ISL side Bengaluru FC 2-0, Maldives' Maziya Sports & Recreation 3-1 and drew 1-1 with Bangladesh's Bashundhara Kings to top the group and advance to the inter-zone semifinal.

However, the tie against the Uzbek side is going to be their toughest challenge yet. While they had only a week-long training camp in Dubai ahead of the all-important game, their opponents have been busy with the Uzbekistan Professional Football League since March early this year where they play once every week.

Since March 13 when they featured in the 2020/21 ISL final against eventual winners Mumbai City FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, on the other hand, have played just three games.

The winners of the match will play Lee Man of Hongkong in the inter-zone final scheduled to be played on October 20. The championship final will be played on November 5 between the winners of that game and the winners of the West Zone final. IANS

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