ATK Mohun Bagan started their AFC Cup Group D campaign on a perfect note beating Bengaluru FC 2-0 at the National Stadium in Male, Maldives, on Wednesday.

ATK Mohun Bagan scored a goal in either half and that was enough for Roy Krishna and Co. to seal the deal. Captain Krishna (39th) and defender Subhashish Bose (46th) were on target for the winning side.

With both teams going for the kill early, ATK Mohun Bagan’s debutant Deepak Tangri had the first glimpse at goal but his header just went wide in the second minute.

ATK Mohun Bagan got the lead six minutes before half-time when Hugo Boumous’s corner was headed towards the goal by Bose. Krishna showed great marksmanship when he nodded it home from close range giving rival goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu hardly any chance.

ATK Bagan doubled the lead just after change of ends. Australian striker David Williams received a Boumous pass from a set-piece on the left flank and sent a low cross for ‘birthday boy’ Bose, whose left-footed shot from the centre of the box found the net.

Bengaluru tried their best to get back into the game but ATK Mohun Bagan held firm.

ATK Mohun Bagan coach Antonio Lopez Habas sounded happy after the game. “Our players played a very good game. I am pleased with the result,” the Spaniard said.

Krishna thought they could have won the game by a bigger margin. “Victory in the first match is always important. We did well in all the departments. I scored my first goal in the AFC Cup but it was the result of team effort. We could have scored more,” the ATK Mohun Bagan captain said.

ATK Mohun Bagan play Maziya Sports & Recreation of Maldives while Bengaluru take on Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh on Saturday.