Mumbai City FC vs Navbahor, AFC Champions League 2023-24: MCFC campaign folds with sixth consecutive loss

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Mumbai City FC vs Navbahor: Mumbai City FC ended their AFC Champions League 2023-24 campaign with a 2-1 defeat in their final group match against Uzbek club Navbahor Namangan at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune on Monday (December 4).

Mumbai City FC, who were playing for pride, finally scored their first goal of the AFC Champions League 2023-24 with Abdenasser El Khayati scoring in the 15th minute. The celebration was short-lived as Jamshid Iskanderov (29') and Jovan Dokic (45+3') then put Navbahor ahead by the end of the first half.

MCFC finished the 2023-24 AFC Champions League with six losses in the same number of games. Despite giving their all in their home matches against Nassaji Mazandaran and table-toppers Al Hilal, the Indian football team ultimately finished in Group D with a wooden spoon.

With five victories and a draw, four-time champions Al Hilal won the group and moved on to the knockout stage. Navbahor, who finished in second place with four wins, a draw, and a loss, also advanced to the next round. Nassaji Mazandaran of Iran finished third with two victories and four defeats.

Jorge Pereyra Diaz was right in the thick of things as Mumbai City FC gave it their all early on in their Monday matchup against Navbahor. Following two successful free kicks awarded to Mumbai City in the attacking half, Jorge Pereyra Diaz almost headed in Greg Stewart's aerial cross from the center of the box, but his header struck the left goal post instead.

But the ball bounced off the post and landed in Abdenasser El Khayati's favour. He hammered it past the goalkeeper to seal the successful start. In the first half, the Indian Super League team had 68 percent of the ball possession. El Khayati and Diaz kept up their impressive play, but they were unable to score again.

Navbahor, on the other hand, were deprived of possession but made the most of their meager opportunities. Just before the half, Jamshid Iskanderov tied the score with a curling left-footed freekick into the right corner from about 30 yards out.

Then, in stoppage time, Jamshid Iskanderov took the lead and helped Jovan Dokic overcome the MCFC defense, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead going into halftime. Mumbai City FC was constantly searching for a way to level the score in the second half. Even though the home team played with greater urgency in the last ten minutes, the game ended in a 2-1 loss.

This was Mumbai City FC's second straight Asian Champions League appearance. They defeated Iraq's Air Force Club twice in their first ACL campaign last season, but they were unable to advance past the first round.