Now Reading: East Bengal crush Al-Arabi 4-1, seal AFC Champions League Two spot
-
01
East Bengal crush Al-Arabi 4-1, seal AFC Champions League Two spot
East Bengal rallied from an early penalty to thrash Kuwaiti side Al-Arabi SC 4-1 in the AFC Champions League Two qualifying play-off at Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday, securing a place in…
The Story in Brief
East Bengal rallied from an early penalty to thrash Kuwaiti side Al-Arabi SC 4-1 in the AFC Champions League Two qualifying play-off at Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday, securing a place in the group stage. Anayo Iwuala had put Al-Arabi ahead from the spot after Sandip Mandi’s foul, but Bashim Rashid, Jay Gupta, David and Rohit Danu struck back for the Red and Gold Brigade. Republicworld reports the victory marks East Bengal’s entry into continental competition.
The side now turns to domestic duty. As per Sportstar, East Bengal faces the Indian Army Football Team in the Durand Cup quarterfinals on Sunday in Kolkata, buoyed by the midweek result. Antonio López Habas’s team finished second in Group A and advanced as one of the best runners-up.
The Indian Opinion
The 4-1 scoreline looks emphatic, but East Bengal trailed early and faced a Kuwaiti side that is not among Asia’s elite. The real test of this team’s consistency will come in the Durand Cup: Can they back up a one-off continental high with a disciplined knockout performance against a well-drilled Indian Army unit that won all three group matches? Watch for how Habas manages rotation and whether the midfield can control tempo again.
Sources (2): republicworld.com, sportstar.thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
