MMC need big performance against Chittagong Abahani

Manang Marshyangdi Club find themselves in a spot of bother following their surprise defeat at the hands of unfancied Shaheen Asmayee FC in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup tournament in Chittagong,Bangladesh.

In a must win game the champion club  of Afghanistan not only  stunned Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) 3-1  but kept their hopes alive for a semi-final spot.

Afghan striker and skipper of the team Amiruddin Sharifi stole the limelight  scoring  a superb hattrick, the first of the competition to put the game  beyond the reach of heavily favored MMC. After the lacklustre performance  against  Chittagong Abahani in the opener, the result came  as a surprise to everyone.Nobody expected it.

The Afghan side did remarkably well to regroup and bounce back with a well deserved victory over MMC. They played aggressively throughout and made the most of their chances.

Shaheen Asmayee FC’s win and Mohammedan Sporting Club’s drawn encounter with Chittagong Abahani has thrown  the group wide open.

The outcome of the final two matches  will determine which two teams advances to the last four from the group. It promises to be intriguing clashes and is  hard to predict the outcome of both games.

MMC really let a  superb chance go begging to book their place in the semi-final, and heir fate hangs in the balance. Now they have put themselves under tremendous pressure. That being said, all's not lost yet. They play against the home side Chittagong Abahani  in  the crucially important game.

No doubt , the challenge is huge  and  in all probability they will be put to test by the  formidable host and defending champions who want to finish top of the group. It is very imperative   that  they go into the match with a  positive  and winning attitude.

Most important,they got to put the defeat behind, and  be at their very best to prevail over the opposition. They cannot afford another lethargic and sloppy performance and must  look like a team in contention for the title. It is not too much to ask but very much doable.

Head Coach of MMC Chirring Lopsang Gurung  partially attributed his team’s defeat to  humidity because of match time change from  4PM to  7PM.

I am of opinion that it is a very lame excuse.He should not forget that the weather affected the opposition as well.He  knows his side  did not play well. He needs to focus on the right strategic and tactical approach going into the important match with the mindset of playing in a final.He has to re-energize the team, instill confidence in his players.

Going back to the game,  MMC  struggled to find form and had a relatively poor first half. They lacked coordination and  finishing power on offense, defended loosely and  midfield play was shaky.The defenders were prone to  counter attacks and were   caught napping on several occasions. This has to change.

To be fair the Afghan  club put in a vastly improved performance and looked the better side the whole day. They displayed confidence, stubbornness,  fighting spirit and  solid determination to pull through.At the end of the day, their efforts paid rich dividends.

There is no reason  for MMC  to panic . Chittagong Abahani is beatable, however, they  will need  a big performance,  and  players will have to step up and rise to the occasion to deliver the goods.