ATK Mohun Bagan were trounced 0-6 by FC Nasaf in the AFC Cup Inter-zonal play-off semi-finals at the Markaziy Stadium in Karshi City, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday.
Right from the first minutes of the match, Nasaf players started putting pressure on the ATK Bagan defence.
Nasaf’s 19-year-old striker Khusain Norchaev scored a hat-trick in the first 32 minutes to rise to the top of the tournament scoring charts, with a Pritam Kokal own goal and Oybek Bozorov’s tap in completing a blistering five-goal first half which delighted the home crowd.
Substitute Doniyorjon Narzullaev added a sixth after the break, putting Ruzikul Berdiev’s side within 90 minutes of their first AFC Cup Final since they last won the title a decade ago. Lee Man FC of Hong Kong is all that stands between them and November’s decider.
On the other hand, ATK Bagan’s campaign in 2021 AFC Cup is over with the defeat.
Nasaf also got a penalty when Kotal fouled Bakhrom Abdurakhimov inside the box but Bozorov’s spot-kick hit the crossbar and came out.
Having failed to come to grips with their rampant hosts in the opening 45 minutes, ATK Mohun’s Bagan’s thoughts turned to damage limitation; a task made more manageable by the departure of Norchaev, who was replaced by Andrija Kaluderovic at the interval.
ATK Bagan next play against Kerala Blasters in an Indian Super League match at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa on November 19.