AFC Champions League 2: East Bengal FC’s campaign on the Asian stage started with a disappointing draw. Red-yellow was leading 2-0 against Jordan’s Al Hussein (Al Hussein). Looking at the fast-paced football in the first half, it seemed that East Bengal were going to start their AFC Champions League-Two campaign with a big win away from home.
But the picture changed completely in the second half. Al Hussain began to increase the pressure on East Bengal with one attack after another. In the end, Jordan’s team scored two goals in the 61st and 87th minutes to equalize the match. As a result, the match ended with a 2-2 scoreline.
Ramirez scored in just 9 minutes
Dani Ramirez put East Bengal ahead at the beginning of the match. After only 9 minutes, his brilliant finish made the red-yellow 1-0. East Bengal’s confidence increased by getting a goal at the beginning of the AFC match on foreign soil.
After that, Habas team took control of the match. In the first half, red and yellow can be seen playing attacking football. After leading 2-0 at the break, the fans were also dreaming of victory.
Ramirez also played a big role in the second goal
Ramirez also played an important role in East Bengal’s second goal. Anwar Ali scored from the opportunity created by him. As a result, apart from scoring, the Spanish forward also contributed to the team’s second goal.
A 2-0 lead led to a natural sense of relief in the East Bengal camp at half-time. The footballers also had a big smile on their faces. But the storm that awaited after the break was still not there.
Al Hussain returned to the match in the 61st minute
From the start of the second half, Al Hussain stepped up their attack. They continued to put East Bengal’s defense under constant pressure. Finally, Jordan’s team got the result of that pressure in 61 minutes.
Al Mardi got the ball in the middle of the box and left Rashid behind. His then sliding shot deflected past East Bengal goalkeeper Prabsukhon Gill. The gap was then 2-1.
It was after this goal that Al Hussain took more control of the match. East Bengal was then mainly seen to be busy in handling the defence.
Al Hussain equalized in the 87th minute
East Bengal’s big disaster happened just three minutes before the scheduled time of the match. In the 87th minute, Obeida Al Namarnah sent a great cross from the right to Ahmad Assaf.
Asaf did not waste that opportunity at all. He sent the ball into the net with a perfect finish. Immediately the scoreline became 2-2. In just a few minutes, East Bengal lost control of the match from a certain place of victory.
Al Hussain turned around due to the double capture of two changed players.
‘I thought we were winning for sure’
Dani Ramirez is disappointed that the team could not win despite his excellent individual performance. At the end of the match, the East Bengal star said that he was satisfied with the team’s performance but could not accept the result.
According to Ramirez, he is not at all happy with such results. He felt that East Bengal will definitely win this match. But Al Hussain equalized at the last minute and the victory was lost.
However, at the same time, Ramirez also expressed satisfaction with the performance of East Bengal in the entire match. His individual performance, however, was a positive for the team—he played a major role in the match with a goal and an assist.
More difficult tests ahead
East Bengal are in Group D of the AFC Champions League-Two with Al Hussain, Al Hadda and Al Seeb. As a result, even if the victory was missed in the first match, the Red-Yellows have a chance to turn around.
However, despite going 2-0 ahead, the East Bengal camp will undoubtedly think about the place of not being able to win the match. The big difference between the two films – the first half’s dominance and the second half’s defensive pressure – will be one of the challenges for Habas’ team in the following matches.