East Bengal Fall To Al Shorta Despite Lalhlansanga Brace
East Bengal suffered a 2-3 defeat against Iraq’s Al Shorta in their second AFC Champions League Two group-stage match in Kolkata on Tuesday, despite a brace from David Lalhlansanga.
The Indian Super League champions took the lead twice at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, but Al Shorta fought back before scoring twice in the space of two minutes early in the second half to secure all three points.
The result leaves East Bengal winless after two matches in Group D, while Al Shorta moved to the top of the table with six points following their second consecutive victory.
Lalhlansanga Strikes Twice For East Bengal
East Bengal made a promising start, with Lalhlansanga opening the scoring in the eighth minute. He collected Hardik Bhatt’s pass from the right and finished on the turn past goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.
Al Shorta responded six minutes later when Ruben RamÃrez’s delivery from the right found Yahya, whose downward header beat East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh.
Hassan then produced two important saves in the 21st minute, denying Lal Chungnunga’s long-range effort before stopping Lalhlansanga’s half-volley on the rebound.
East Bengal regained the lead five minutes before half-time. Captain Basim Rashid collected the ball after Hasan blocked Daniel Ramirez’s free-kick and back-heeled it from the byline to Lalhlansanga, who finished from close range.
Al Shorta Turn The Game Around
Al Shorta drew level again in the 51st minute after Yahya created space on the left and squared the ball for Hussein Al Saedi to tap home from inside the six-yard box.
Just two minutes later, Kingsley Kuku put the visitors ahead for the first time, powering a header from a corner that ricocheted off Prabhsukhan Singh’s arm and into the net.
East Bengal pushed for an equaliser, but Hassan denied Edmund Lalrindika and Lalhlansanga with consecutive close-range saves in the 67th minute.
East Bengal Fail To Exploit Numerical Advantage
Al Shorta were reduced to 10 men in the 76th minute when Abdoul Moumouni received a second yellow card for a tackle on Jay Gupta.
However, East Bengal could not make their numerical advantage count during the closing stages, despite creating several opportunities to rescue a point.
The Kolkata side remain third in Group D with one point from two matches, having drawn 2-2 against Jordan’s Al Hussein on September 16. Al Shorta lead the standings with six points.
