Kolkata: India’s Kingfisher East Bengal was virtually out of qualifying round at the AFC Cup campaign when they were beaten 0-2 by Iraq’s Arbil SC in Group B match at Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) here on Wednesday.
East Bengal, the only Indian club playing the AFC Cup for past three years in a row, had to pay heavily due to poor finishing though they apparently cracked the Iraqi defense on both halves of the play.
The visitors, who had been looking for first win in the last three games, struck home in the 75th minute from Amzed Radi, and doubled the lead in the injury time play from Abdul Razak to gain first three full points and total five from first leg matches.
This was East Bengal’s worst year in the AFC Cup campaign conceding all three defeats in first leg- with first match to Al Orouba of Yemen at home 0-1, and then 0-3 defeat to Kazma SC of Kuwait in the away game and placed at bottom in the 4-team Group B. (UNI)