East Bengal, one of India’s most celebrated football clubs, is making a triumphant return to the Asian football stage after a nine-year hiatus. The Red and Gold will take on Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr in the AFC Champions League 2 Prelims on Wednesday, August 14th, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata. This match marks a crucial step for East Bengal, as a victory would secure them a coveted spot in the group stages of the competition.
The Kolkata giants earned their place in the preliminary stage by winning the Kalinga Super Cup 2024, defeating Odisha FC 3-2 in extra time. If they successfully navigate their way past Altyn Asyr, East Bengal will be placed in Pot 4 from the West Asia region for the group stages. This means they will be drawn alongside Al Wehdat of Jordan, FC Ravshan of Tajikistan, and the winner of the preliminary match between Bahrain’s Al Ahli and Kuwait SC.
This return to the Asian stage is a momentous occasion for East Bengal. Their last participation in an AFC competition was in the 2015 AFC Cup, which has since been renamed to the AFC Champions League 2 under a new format. The Red and Gold qualified for the 2015 AFC Cup after finishing runner-up in the 2013-14 I-League season, marking their eighth qualification in the tournament. They were drawn into Group F alongside Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia, Kitchee of Hong Kong, and Balestier Khalsa of Singapore.
East Bengal’s journey in the 2015 AFC Cup was a mixed bag. They opened their campaign with a 4-1 loss against Johor, with Ranty Martins scoring the lone goal for the Kolkata club. In their next match, they improved their performance, drawing 1-1 against the 2014–15 Hong Kong Premier League champions, Kitchee. However, they suffered a 2-1 loss against Khalsa in an away match in Singapore. The Red and Gold bounced back strongly, securing a 2-1 win against Khalsa in the return fixture but followed it up with a 1-0 loss against Johor and a 2-2 draw against Kitchee in the final group stage match. This ultimately resulted in East Bengal finishing third in the group with five points, eliminating them from the tournament.
East Bengal’s return to the AFC Champions League 2 comes after their arch-rivals, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, also participated in the AFC Cup last season, finishing third in Group D with seven points. All eyes are now on East Bengal as they embark on this new chapter in their illustrious history, aiming to make a strong statement on the Asian football scene and write a new story of success for their passionate fans.
