Teams from India to qualify for AFC Cup knockouts

ATK Mohun Bagan became the first Indian team in 3 years to reach the inter-zonal semi-finals. They topped the continental tournament from Group D with 7 points from 3 matches. Assisted by a Liston Colaco cross, Australian forward David Williams scored the equaliser for ATK Mohun Bagan on Tuesday. ATK Mohun Bagan became the only Indian team to qualify for AFC Cup knockouts as the other Indian team Bengaluru FC crashed out of the tournament on the second day.

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ATK Mohun Bagan beat their Indian counterpart Bengaluru FC 2-0 in their opening match of the tournament. They registered a brilliant comeback to beat Maziya S&RC 3-1 on matchday 2. ATK Mohunbagan just needed a draw on matchday 3 against Bashundhara Kings to proceed through to the knockout stages which they did. However, the AFC Cup story was not the same for the other Indian team Bengaluru FC. After losing their first game against ATKMB, hopes for the knockouts already became thin. Moreover, a goalless draw against the Bangladeshi side put the final nails in the coffin.

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Qualified teams:

• The winners of each of the three groups and the best runners-up in the West Asia Zone (Groups A–C) advanced to the Zonal semi-finals.
• The top teams from South Asia Zone (Group D), and the East Asia Zone (Group J) advanced to the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals.
• The winners of each group in the Central Asia Zone (Groups E–F) advanced to the Zonal finals.