Bashundhara Kings advanced to the AFC Cup knockout stage with a remarkable come-from-behind 2-1 triumph over visiting Maziya S&RC in their penultimate Group D encounter today at Bashundhara Kings Arena.
Boburbek Yuldashow, an Uzbekistani defender for Kings, scored in the 80th minute to cancel off Maziya’s Regan Obeng’s 10-minute goal.
In the 88th minute, Brazilian player Miguel Ferreira struck a sensational winner with a wonderful chip that escaped the goalkeeper’s outstretched fingertips and nestled into the top left corner of the goalpost.
Oscar Bruzon’s troops now require a win over hosts Odisha FC on December 11 to qualify for the zonal semifinals for the first time in their history, becoming the second Bangladeshi team to do so after Abahani in 2019.
The victory helped the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions maintain their lead in the four-team group with 10 points from five games, while Maziya are at the bottom with three points from the same amount of games.
The victory also extended the Kings’ unbeaten streak at the Kings Arena in both international and local tournaments.
The Kings were missing their Brazilian captain, Robson Da Silva, who was injured, and looked shaky in the final third.
Within the opening seven minutes, the hosts had two chances to score, but Nigerian Mfun Sunday Udoh and Brazilian Dorielton Gomes squandered both.
Maziya then took the lead against the run of play in the 10th minute, thanks to custodian Mehdi Hasan Srabon’s blunder.
The ball was delivered inside the box by mistake by the rookie custodian to Maziya’s Vojislav Balabanonvic, whose effort was stopped by defender Boburbek Yuldashow. However, the ricochet took the ball right to Maziya’s Ghanaian midfielder Regan Obeng, who easily scored.
The Kings were spooked after giving up the lead, and Maziya continued to create chances before the break.
However, the Kings recovered after conceding a goal in the first half for the fourth time in the AFC Cup.
Udoh came near to tying the game on several occasions, while Bishwanath Ghosh saved Kings from being eliminated in the 48th minute with a timely tackle on Hamza Mohamed.
Sheikh Morsalin, who came on as a substitute in the 68th minute, blasted the ball inside the box from a corner kick, which Yuldashow knocked home with just 10 minutes remaining.
Miguel, who had previously scored against Mohun Bagan and Odisha FC, scored the game-winning goal with a chip from 30 yards out, sending thousands of home fans into ecstasy.