KL City FC advances to the AFC Cup Inter-Zone Finals

KL City FC defeated Indian Super League (ISL) side ATK Mohun Bagan and advances to the AFC Cup Inter-Zone Finals.

The City Boys trounced Mohun Bagan 1-3 in the inter-zone playoff semi-final at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium, Kolkata, India.

Mohun Bagan, featuring Florentin Pogba, controlled much of the first half but could not break the deadlock.

After the break, Captain Paulo Josue scored a stunning volley in the 61st minute to put the City Boys ahead.

Josue’s goal is his fifth goal of the campaign, and he is the top scorer for City Boys.

The match was largely uneventful until the comeback by the home team through Fardin Molla equalising in the 90th minute.

An additional six minutes of injury time provided a lifeline to the City Boys to muster a win, with coach Bojan Hodak introducing Fakhrul Aiman and Romel Morales.

The gamble paid off when Fakrul Aiman scored a header in the 92nd minute, stunning the Mohun Bagan.

Romel Morales also got on the score sheet in the 95th minute when the Mohun Bagan defender made a mistake. Morales hit a grounder at the far right corner, devastating the goalkeeper Vishal Kaith.

The City Boys will advance to the Inter Zone finals with the semi-final victory.

Kuala Lumpur City FC returned to an Asian continental competition after 28 years, and their journey has been long and impressive.

Having started their campaign in the group stages, KL City FC finished second in their group behind Indonesia’s PSM Makassar and qualified for the next round as the best runners-up from Groups G, H and I.

City then had to overcome Vietnam’s Viettel FC and PSM Makassar again to win the ASEAN Zone and book a place in the Inter-Zone Playoff semi-final.

KL City will face PFC Sogdiana in the Inter-Zone finals next month. The Uzbekistan club defeated Hong Kong’s Eastern Long Lions in the other semi-final match.