Kolkata : Group D bottom placed Oman side Al-Seeb held ISL 2025 champion East Bengal for goalless draw at Muscat in AFC Champions League 2026 game.
East Bengal started the game without Ake Loba who scored a brace in East Bengal’s last ISL match against Inter Kashi. They started with 3 foreigners – Md Rashid, Diego Zivulic and Dani Ramnirez. Antonio Habas preferred all Indian attack with Edmund Lalrindika and David Hmar in the front.
Playing at home, Al Seeb started brightly, with Abdul Mageed Al Balushi forcing a save from East Bengal goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa in the eighth minute. Ahmed Al Riyami then curled a left-footed effort narrowly wide after Abdulaziz Al Maqbali’s run down the left.
East Bengal responded through David Lalhlansanga and Anwar Ali, but while the former tested goalkeeper Muatasim Al Wahaibi, the latter fired over under pressure.
East Bengal maintained good possession with Dani Ramirez and Jay Gupta mobilising along the left flank. However, Axel Meye continuously troubled East Bengal and kept Phurba busy.
In 29th minute, David Lalhlansanga Hmar got a brilliant opportunity in the penalty box. He shot through the legs of Al Saadi, however, Al Wahaibi made a good save.
Meye troubled yet again but East Bengal kept defending. Both teams did counter attacks. However, first half ended 0-0 with both hunting for a goal.
In 2nd half, Edmund Lalrindika had a chance to put the visitors ahead shortly after the restart, racing past Hassan Al Ajmi before shooting over from inside the box in the 49th minute.
Al Seeb then threatened through Augustine Oladapo’s chipped pass to Axel Meye, but the forward dragged his effort wide. Meye continued to threaten throughout.
East Bengal also had chance in 52nd minute, Bipin Singh tested Al-Seeb goalkeeper with a cross but was eventually saved.
East Bengal kept searching for a goal and Habas fielded Ake Loba in later phase (66′) and immediately made his presence felt. He came close to scoring from Rashid’s corner but failed.
In 80th minute, The Red and Yellow brigade had another chance when Rashid sent a long diagonal ball from the midfield to the right flank, and a sprinting Bipin collected the Ball to shoot in on target but Al-Seeb goalkeeper Wahaibi made a save to deny it.
Both teams tried desperately in final minutes for goal by counter attacks. East Bengal even won a corner during 90th minute but couldn’t capitalize. During the added time, Al-Seeb came very close to scoring but Zahir Al Aghbari’s shot was saved by fingertips of Phurba in nervous moments and somehow prevented a defeat for East Bengal.
The result kept East Bengal third in the group with two points, while Al Seeb remained fourth with one point at the halfway stage of the group phase. This was first point for the Oman based side in this tournament. While East Bengal continue to search for win.
The Red and Gold Brigade will square off against Al-Seeb Club in their reverse group-stage clash at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on November 3.
After the game, coach Antonio Habas stated being tired after ISL and ACL 2 packed schedule as a factor behind such performance of East Bengal.
“It’s a bad performance from my team. We’re too tired. There was no intensity and the opponent performed well”, Habas stated.
