East Bengal Lose To Altyn Asyr, Out Of AFC Champions League 2

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Thank you for joining

Mohun Bagan will be the only Indian team in the AFC Champions League Two. Thank you all for joining us today on the live coverage of the East Bengal vs Altyn Asyr match.

That’s a wrap. Goodnight!

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: The disallowed goal

A huge talking point post-game will the disallowed goal in the 82nd minute. Captain Cleiton Silva had put it in, but the referee called it a foul on Altyn goalkeeper Batyr Babayew first. Had that goal stood, we could’ve been writing a completely different script.

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Commiserations East Bengal

East Bengal had their bright moments. David’s early goal, Nandha looking bright on the left wing, Talal and Saul influencing the game as well. But yet, they were second-best defensively, and will rue the sloppy moments.

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Full Time

Heartbreak for East Bengal. Altyn Asyr qualify for the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two. The red and gold brigade had their chances, but sloppy moments in crucial stages made the difference.

Not a horrible performance, by any means.

FT: East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Last chance?

East Bengal send a long ball into the box, but Diamantakos’ header doesn’t get the power or accuracy. We are beyond 7 minutes of added time now.

90+7′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: East Bengal corner goes begging

East Bengal had another chance. A corner for them in the 95th minute. It goes to waste, beyond any man in the box.

90+5′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Goalkeeper fumbles, but EB can’t score

The Altyn Asyr goalkeeper fumbles Cleiton’s free-kick, but he recoveres to collect before it a rebound comes to an East Bengal player. Is that the end for East Bengal. Goalkeeper Batyr Babayew is down in the box, as the clock keeps ticking. We are well past 91 minutes now. 

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Free-kick on the edge of the box!

Madih Talal is brought down just on the edge of the box. That’s as close as it gets without it actually being inside the box. Still, East Bengal can have a crack at goal. It must be Cleiton.

90′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Just wide by Altyn

Altyn Asyr fire just wide! Brilliantly orchestrated manouevre in the midfield, and a curling effort from the left goes inches wide. A comeback is still on for East Bengal.

88′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Time running out for EB!

East Bengal have less than four minutes of regulation time to make something happen here. 

87′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Altyn Asyr almost score

Almost immediately, a chance at the other end for Altyn. This game is really opening up in the final ten minutes. The replay shows a great first block, before the ball almost slipped in underneath Gill. Big reprieve for EBFC.

83′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: GOAL DISALLOWED!

East Bengal had the ball in the back of the net, but the referee has disallowed it, ruling a foul on the goalline.

It was Cleiton who scored, but the referee has awarded a foul to Altyn. This will be a HUGE talking point if East Bengal lose.

82′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: No penalty!

Altyn’s Annayew goes down in the box, but no penalty awarded by the referee. Nandha sets off on the counter attack, but his cross towards Diamantakos is intercepted.

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Almost an own goal by Altyn!

Altyn Asyr almost put an East Bengal cross into their own net, as their failed clearance ricochets off the post! Drama at the Salt Lake Stadium.

70′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Cleiton Silva is on!

A new wave of hope for East Bengal. David has been largely anonymous since he scored the first goal, and now he is replaced by club legend Cleiton Silva. 5 overseas players on the pitch now. There’s no limit of four overseas players, because this is an Asian competition.

67′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: What happens if it’s a tie?

Remember, this is a one-legged tie. If East Bengal manage to level the game, the match will head to extra time and then penalties if needed.

66′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Cleiton Silva coming on?

East Bengal club captain Cleiton Silva is warming up and having discussions with coach Carles Cuadrat. His entry into the game is imminent.

64′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Straight into the wall

Altyn Asyr have another free-kick in a dangerous position, but this one arrows into the East Bengal wall. 

63′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Don’t count out East Bengal!

Ever since they conceded the third, the two experienced overseas midfielders for East Bengal have stepped up. Talal had two pops at goal, and now Saul has scored. 

62′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: East Bengal pull one back!

Saul Crespo has scored! East Bengal are still alive. The Spanish midfielder dribbles past 3 defenders and then curls it past the Altyn goalkeeper.

A sign of hope. Salt Lake Stadium cheers again. Can East Bengal mount a comeback?

60′ East Bengal 2-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Talal with another unsuccesful longshot

Talal dances past a defender, opening up a great angle and a 3v2 situation. But he decides to shoot from range again and it goes straight into the arms of the goalkeeper.

58′ East Bengal 1-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Talal strikes over the bar

French midfielder Madih Talal trying to make something happen, and shoots from outside the box. Not a bad effort, but it goes slightly over the bar. East Bengal are counting on a moment of individual brilliance to raise their hopes.

54′ East Bengal 1-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: 3-1 Altyn

Against the run of play, Altyn Asyr score their third goal. Great cross towards the far post. Gill makes the first save, but Altyn put the rebound into an empty net. 

Mountain to climb now for East Bengal. The Salt Lake Stadium has been silenced.

53′ East Bengal 1-3 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: East Bengal have momentum

East Bengal have been clearly lifted by the presence of Diamantakos in the box. Good early momentum for the red and gold brigade at the start of the second half.

50′ East Bengal 1-2 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Poor cross from Nandha

Fast start to the second half by East Bengal, as Talal and Crespo show slickness in the midfield. Nandha’s final cross is poor, and goes straight to the goalkeeper.

47′ East Bengal 1-2 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Diamantakos and Jeakson on!

There’s the sign of intent from East Bengal. Striker Dimitrios Diamantakos is on, and so is defensive midfielder Jeakson Singh. Winger Naorem Mahesh and right-back Md Rakip have been taken off.

It will be interesting to see who takes up the right-back position now, and whether Jeakson plays CB or defensive mid.

46′ East Bengal 1-2 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Players back on the field

We are about to start the second half. East Bengal must come roaring back if they want to qualify for the main stage of the AFC Champions League 2. 

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Bring on target man?

East Bengal have two ISL-proven strikers on the bench, in Cleiton Silva and Dimitrios Diamantakos. A number of times in the first half, East Bengal have failed to capitalize on good crosses into the box. A change in strategy seems imminent.

HT: East Bengal 1-2 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Half-time; East Bengal trail

That’s the end of the first half. David Lalhlansanga sent the Salt Lake Stadium into raptures with a goal in the 7th minute, but Altyn Asyr fought back. First, a deft finish by to equalise Myrat Annayew to equalize, and then a sweet free-kick by Selim Nurmuradow to make it 2-1.

East Bengal have firepower on the bench, and that could make a difference in the second half.

HT: East Bengal 1-2 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Huge chance goes begging!

East Bengal with a great chance in the final moments of the first half, but they fail to capitalize. Excellent cross into the box by Crespo, but Lalchungnunga’s shot is saved. 

45+3′ East Bengal 1-2 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: David loses control

David Lalhlansanga does very well to win back possession in his own half, but then loses momentum in his run as the ball gets stuck under his feet, allowing the Altyn defender to catch up.

45+2′ East Bengal 1-2 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Gill rushes out of his box

Altyn Asyr had sent a player completely through on goal, but Prabhsukhan Gill rushes out of his box to tackle. He’s also lucky to not have gotten a hand on the ball.

43′ East Bengal 1-2 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Another good move, but no goal

East Bengal are piling on the pressure now. The home crowd are pushing them on. Saul and Talal are combining well in the midfield, and Mark Zo had put in another venomous cross, but did not find a man.

40′ East Bengal 1-2 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Good cross leads to nothing

A superb cross from the left flank by left back Mark Zo, but does not connect with a striker in the box. Diamantakos would’ve been perfect for a ball like that, but he is on the bench!

35′ East Bengal 1-2 Altyn

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Huge disappointment

East Bengal will be gutted to have let that early lead slip. It has been sloppy from Carles Cuadrat’s side ever since, and Altyn Asyr are clearly dominating proceedings now.

32′ East Bengal 1-2 Altyn

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Altyn Asyr take the lead

Altyn Asyr slam it in from a direct free-kick at the edge of the box. Brilliant strike by Selim Nurmuradow. Once again, Sukhan Gill stands still and watches the ball enter the net. East Bengal have completely let the momentum slip.

28′ East Bengal 1-2 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Wasteful cross by Rakip

East Bengal trying to get a move going, but a poor cross by Rakip from the right ends it. The red and gold brigade slowly losing their grip on the game.

24′ East Bengal 1-1 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Altyn Asyr equalize

Altyn Asyr equalize! The Turkmenistan side have been on the offensive lately, and this time they pounce. A chipped ball over the top, and Myrat Annayew scores with a deft finish past a motionless Prabhsukhan Gill.

20′ East Bengal 1-1 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Great save from Prabhusukhan!

The goalkeeper makes a superb save. Great shot by Altyn Asyr heading towards the bottom corner, but East Bengal’s custodian stretches well to save.

12′ East Bengal 1-0 Altyn Asyr

East Bengal ACL2 LIVE: Nandha dangerous

East Bengal are threatening repeatedly on the left-wing. Nandha is striking out with his blonde hairstyle, and he is proving to be a big thorn for Altyn Asyr so far.

11′ East Bengal 1-0 Altyn Asyr