East Bengal FC lost 2-3 to Altyn Asyr FC of Turkmenistan

East Bengal FC bowed out of the AFC Champions League second qualifying round with a 2-3 defeat to Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr in Kolkata on Wednesday. East Bengal FC will now participate in the AFC Challenge League group stage. In overcast weather, Altyn Asyr FC had the last laugh despite conceding an early goal.

Altyn Asir FC quickly recovered and led 2-1 at the halfway point and scored another goal in the second half before East Bengal pulled one back.

East Bengal started well but lost to a team without any foreign players, which was the runner-up in the Turkmenistan A-League last season.

East Bengal took the lead when Nandhakumar Sekar sent in a pinpoint cross from the left and David Lalhlansanga was left unmarked to head the ball, but it was caught by the post and could not find the net. The rebound again fell to Lalhlansanga, who fired home a well-taken shot to give his side the lead.

But Altyn Asir FC fought back and equalised in the 17th minute through a volley from midfielder and captain Milat Anayev, leaving East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhukan Singh Gill helpless.

Altyn Asyr scored again 11 minutes later when Nurmiradov Selim, whose strength had troubled the East Bengal defence on several occasions, fired a direct free-kick from outside the box that Gill slotted home with ease.

Turkmenistan pressed further in the second half and consolidated their lead seven minutes after the interval. Anayev crossed from the right and Mikhail Titov fired home from close range from the left.

East Bengal reduced the gap in the 59th minute when Saul Crespo fired home a powerful shot with his right foot, but that was all they could do on the night.