Bashundhara Kings bounced back strongly in the ongoing AFC Cup 2023-24 after they beat Indian Super Cup champions Odisha Football Club by 3-2 goals in their second Group D match at the jam-packed Bashundhara Kings Arena on Monday.
Odisha’s Brazilian forward Diego Mauricio gave the visitors the lead in the 19th minute before Kings made a spectacular comeback by scoring three goals within the next 27 minutes.
Kings’ Brazilian forward Dorielton Gomes Nascimento scored two goals in the 45th and 54th minute after his compatriot midfielder Miguel Figueira Damasceno opened the account in the 39th minute.
For Odisha, defender Jerry Lalrinzuala netted one each in the 66th minute but Kings held their nerve to earn the full three points from the game.
Both Kings and debutants Odisha earlier started their respective AFC Cup campaigns with defeats.
The BPL champions, who earlier never conceded defeat at their den in domestic leagues, were determined to continue this unbeaten record in this international event as well.
Also, the match was crucial for the BPL champions as it was their first international match at their home venue.
Kings, who have been taking part in this continental club football competition since 2020, got a chance to play one home match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in 2020.
After that, the competition took place two times at the centralized venues in Maldives and India for the next two years in 2021 and 2022.
Kings fell behind in this crucial match when Odisha’s Brazilian forward Diego, who conceded a yellow card 15th minute, struck the first goal with a right-footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner, off a pass from defender Laldinliana.
But King’s Brazilian star Miguel scored an equalizer with a header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal while another Brazilian star Dorielton doubled the margin with a smart header, off a cross from forward Rakib Hossain before the interval.
Dorielton scored his second goal and extended the margin to 3-1 for the home team with a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, off an assist by Brazilian captain Robson Robinho in the ninth minute of the second half.
Indian defender Jerry scored with a left-footed shot to the high centre of the goal after 12 minutes and despite a series of attacks from both sides after this goal, the home team successfully maintained the lead until the final whistle.
Meanwhile, Kings will play next against Mohun Bagan on October 24 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India.
The match was originally scheduled to be held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, but the Kolkata giants are unable to host the match on that day due to Durga Puja.
BDST: 2127 HRS, OCT 2, 2023
MSK
