Antonio Habas to consider changes after East Bengal's 3-2 home defeat to Al-Shorta

East Bengal twice led but lost 3-2 to Al-Shorta in Kolkata in their 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two group-stage match on Tuesday, October 13, the visitors completing a comeback after the break.

David Lalhlansanga Hmar scored twice for East Bengal — either side of an equaliser from Al-Shorta defender Ahmed Yahya — but Hmar missed three gilt-edged chances in the closing minutes of the first half. In the second half Al-Shorta struck through Hussein Ali and Kingsley Kuku, who scored twice in the space of two minutes to put the visitors ahead, and Abdoul Moumouni was later shown a red card, leaving Al-Shorta with 10 men for the final 15 minutes; East Bengal could not find an equaliser. The club tweeted: Proud of the fight tonight. 👏❤️💛@eastbengal_fc 🇮🇳#ACLTwo #IndianFootball📸 EBFC pic.twitter.com/nvncfv6NP6

East Bengal struggled to handle sustained pressure after half-time, with the visitors probing in wide areas and repeatedly taking on the home side’s full-backs. Hardik Bhatt made a few sloppy errors early in the second half that allowed Al-Shorta to exploit those spaces, Diego Živulić had difficulty tracking opposition runs and his communication with centre-back partner Anwar Ali appeared below par. Despite those problems, several crosses and wide deliveries were cleared or dealt with by Anwar Ali and Lalchungnunga.

The team’s pressing intensity dropped as energy levels fell, allowing Al-Shorta to dominate possession and move the ball in East Bengal’s half with limited resistance. The article says Habas must strike a balance between aggression and tactical discipline, avoid committing too many men forward, preserve sufficient defensive cover against counterattacks and make timely substitutions to maintain control and energy. Greater emphasis was recommended on midfielders’ responsiveness to opposition threats in their own half.

Specific midfield responsibilities mentioned include increased pressing and quicker reaction from Mohammed Rashid, Jeakson Singh and Dani Ramirez to close down spaces, disrupt passing rhythm and make it harder for opponents to progress the ball through midfield. The piece argues a more proactive pressing approach could force opponents into misplaced passes and backward balls, reducing the number of clear-cut chances created against East Bengal.

Finishing proved decisive: David Hmar’s two goals underlined his threat but the report states he could have netted five on the night and that he missed two clear-cut chances after scoring his first-half brace. East Bengal also had counter-attacking opportunities in the second half that they failed to convert, with players unable to complete the final pass or finish moves effectively, according to the article.

Antonio Habas acknowledged in the post-match press conference that missed chances had cost his side and emphasised the importance of making better decisions while maintaining focus and concentration throughout the match. The East Bengal head coach also praised David’s performance, describing him as a fantastic player, and the article recommends Habas work on sharpening his forwards’ composure and finishing in training.

The result leaves East Bengal with a draw and a loss from their two group games in the AFC Champions League Two, and the article states their chances of qualifying for the next round now appear slim.