AFC Challenge League 2025: East Bengal FC Suffer 0-1 Loss To FC Arkadag In First Leg Of Quarterfinal | Football News
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East Bengal had qualified for the third tier of men’s AFC club competition by virtue of winning the 2024 Super Cup, and will partake in the second leg on March 12.
East Bengal FC in action against FC Arkadag (X)
Indian Super League (ISL) side East Bengal FC suffered a narrow defeat against FC Arkadag in the AFC Challenge League quarterfinal first leg at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The Red and Gold Brigade created chances throughout the match, but Yazgylych Gurbanov’s first-half goal ended up being the decider, as the Kolkata giants are now trailing 0-1 in the two-leg semi-final fixture.
Oscar Bruzon named five foreigners in the starting eleven, leaving only Cletion Silva on the bench. The hosts started the proceeding in a slightly sloppy way, resulting in the visitors getting the crucial opener in the 10th minute.
A quick-attacking transition from the Turkmenistan side saw Gurbanov find the back of the net with his precise strike from the edge of the box, leaving no chance for Prabhsukhan Singh Gill at his near post.
Despite an early setback, the Red and Gold Brigade displayed a spirited performance with multiple offensive third entries in both halves, but a resilient FC Arkadag defense prevented the hosts from scoring the equaliser.
A resolute center-back duo of Saparov and Bashimov resisted the East Bengal FC side to keep only a shot on target throughout the entire game.
East Bengal FC got their chances in the first half through set-piece movements but couldn’t get the breakthrough delivery. The hosts got back-to-back corner kicks in the 40th minute but failed to find the back of the net.
Gurbanov had a golden opportunity to secure a two-goal lead at the stroke of halftime, but the East Bengal FC goalkeeper stood strong to deny his attempt with a clinical save.
Bruzon’s men kept trying to utilise the spaces in the second half with Saul Crespo and Naorem Mahesh Singh in the midfield and Raphael Messi Bouli and Dimitrios Diamantakos up front, but a lack of precision in the final third left them succumbing to a 0-1 loss at home in the AFC Challenge League first-leg quarterfinal.
East Bengal FC will travel to Turkmenistan for the second leg of the AFC Challenge League quarterfinal, which will be played on March 12.