Jason Cummings scores late winner against Maziya S&RC in AFC Cup. Jason Cummings secures a victory for Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) with a late goal in injury time against Maldives’ Maziya S&RC. The AFC Cup Group-D encounter took place at the Salt Lake Stadium on Monday. The Australian striker was the star of the match, scoring both goals to help his team secure three points and maintain their position at the top of the group standings. Tomoki Wada netted the only goal for Maziya.
First Half Action: Dominance and Misadventure
The first half witnessed two goals and a penalty misadventure. Mohun Bagan dominated the game with over 65% ball possession, constantly pressurizing Maziya with numerous attacks. In the 28th minute, French playmaker Hugo Boumous provided an excellent pass to Jason Cummings, who cleverly outsmarted his marker and fired a powerful left-footed shot that hit the inside of the Maziya upright before finding the net. However, Bagan’s lead led to overconfidence, evident in Cummings’ failed attempt to lay the ball off for Petratos during a penalty situation in the 40th minute. Petratos failed to anticipate Cummings’ intention, allowing Maziya defender Sebastijan Antic to clear the ball. Taking advantage of this, Maziya’s Japanese midfielder Tomoki Wada scored in the 45th minute to equalize the game.
Second Half Struggle and Ultimate Triumph
Mohun Bagan tried to regain the lead in the second half but faced strong resistance from Maziya’s defense. Despite their continuous efforts, the hosts were unable to break through Maziya’s resilience. However, in the added time (90+2 minute), Jason Cummings finally sealed the victory for Mohun Bagan Super Giant with a well-placed shot that ended the team’s misery and brought immense joy to the local crowd.
Final Score: Mohun Bagan 2 (Jason Cummings 28, 90+2) def. Maziya S&RC 1 (Tomoki Wada 45).
Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI