East Bengal beat Al Arabi 4-1 after extra time in AFC Champions League Two qualifier

East Bengal FC came from behind to beat Kuwait’s Al Arabi SC 4-1 after extra time in an AFC Champions League Two qualifier at Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday.

The ISL champion began on the front foot, with Palestinian midfielder Basim Rashid testing the visitors’ goalkeeper when his powerful strike from outside the box forced a save from Sulaiman Abdulghafoor. In the 23rd minute Kenean Maleko produced a chance that nearly slipped between Prabhsukhan Gill’s legs, but the EBFC custodian recovered to keep the score level. Those early openings left the match finely balanced until the second half.

Al Arabi took the lead in the 76th minute after Sandip Mandi brought down Maleko inside the box. Nigerian forward Anayo Iwuala converted the resulting penalty to put the Kuwaiti side ahead. With a defeat looming large, the host found a dramatic equaliser late on.

Jay Gupta headed home from a Basim Rashid free-kick in the 90th minute to level the match and force extra time. The stoppage-time leveller arrived in the final moments of regular time, taking the contest into two 15-minute periods. The equaliser set the stage for a decisive extra-time period.

EBFC showed better endurance against a tiring opponent and took complete control in the second session of extra time. Rashid produced an angled half-volley in the 108th minute to put East Bengal ahead. That strike moved the hosts in front for the first time in the match.

Substitute David Hmar made it 3-1 in the 117th minute, scoring from a rebound after Chris Ikonomidis’ effort was saved. Rohit Danu completed the comeback in the 120th minute by converting Hmar’s assist. Those late goals sealed the outcome in extra time.

The win secured East Bengal’s place in the tournament’s group stage. The result: East Bengal FC 4 (Jay 90, Rashid 108, Hmar 117, Rohit 120) bt Al Arabi SC 1 (Iwuala 76-pen) aet.