E Bengal go down to Al Qadsia

East Bengal…2 Al Qadsia…3
KOLKATA, MARCH4
Federation Cup winners East Bengal fought hard to level a double-deficit before going down in the final minutes 2-3 to Al Qadsia of Kuwait in the AFC Cup in Group D here on Wednesday.
The visitors shot home inside two minutes when Bader Almotawaa beat East Bengal custodian Priyant Singh over his head. Jehad Al Hussein, who scored the match-winning goal five minutes before end, doubled the lead in the 20th minute.
Trailing by a double-deficit within 20 minutes, East Bengal rallied superbly in tandem and pulled it back four minutes later through Subash Singh to reduce the margin.
After break, Yusif Yakubu’s header from Bekhokhei brought the game on level terms in the 64th minute.
East Bengal were unlucky not to put the game in their favour for misjudgement of ball and target, leading the Kuwait club to reinforce combined attacks. Al Qadsia succeeded in the 85th minute when Jehad Al Hussein doubled for him to return home with three points and lead the Group D.
With this East Bengal lost all three AF Cup plays.
The Kolkata giants were drubbed 1-4 by Al Ittihad of Syria in the first play at home and then were thrashed 0-3 by Al Nejmeh of Lebanon in the away match and virtually went out of the contest.
Under 39.5 degree Celsius on artificial turf at Yuva Bharati Krirangan here, Al Qadsia stayed in challenge for Asian circuit football with five points from three matches so far.
East Bengal have drawn a blank in three matches played so far and remained at the bottom of Group D table.