Hero Indian Super League side ATK Mohun Bagan will be up against Maziya Sports & Recreation in their final encounter of Group D at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday. The Mariners will look to secure qualification to the next round with another three points.

Ahead of the crucial meeting between the two teams, here’s a detailed look at Maziya Sports & Recreation who will look for a win to seal their passage through to the next round.

History 

Since their inception in 1996, Maziya S&RC have worked hard to establish themselves as Maldives' best team. They earned promotion to the Dhivehi Premier League in 2006 but took some time to properly get to the top. Since 2015, they’ve won the Dhivehi Premier League three times, as well as the Maldives FA Cup twice. The Green Boys have also won the Maldivian Charity Shield thrice, as well as the President’s Cup and the Male League once.

In the AFC Cup, Maziya has a decent record. They’ve participated in six editions and played 36 games in the competition. Out of that, the Green Boys have won 11 games, drawn eight, and lost 17.

Form Guide: WLWWW

Maziya S&RC have won four out of their last five matches and the only defeat came against the Bashundhara Kings in their opening match of the AFC Cup. In their last encounter, they handed a 1-0 defeat to Gokulam Kerala FC. 

Head to Head

This will be the second time when ATK Mohun Bagan will be facing Maziya Sports & Recreation. Their previous meeting ended in favor of ATKMB with a scoreline of 3-1. It was also in the group stage of the AFC Cup last season.

Key Players:

Cornelius Stewart: Cornelius Stewart has been a mainstay at Maziya for quite a few years now and has become a real fan-favorite at the club. In his first stint in 2018, he scored 20 goals in 23 appearances for the Green Boys. Vincentian winger Stewart is a threat to the Mariners' defense given his pace and strength on the counter. Stewart managed to score a goal in the last game against Ghokulam FC. The Mariners' defenders have to be at the top of their game to contain the 32-year-old.

Mohamed Irufaan: Mohamed Irufaan played for the Maldivian team Club Valencia at the youth level before breaking into the first team. He joined Maziya in 2014 and has since won all major domestic laurels with the side. The 27-year-old has also played in the AFC Cup for Maziya, making five appearances in the group stage across 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2021 also registered one goal to his name. His experience and knowledge of playing in top competitions make him a formidable threat in this group.