EBFC 2-2 AFC, highlights: East Bengal knocked out of the Super Cup after draw against Aizawl; finishes tournament without a single win

FULL-TIME: East Bengal is out of the Super Cup 2023 with a 2-2 draw against Aizawl FC in its final Group B clash. It needed a win to keep qualification hopes alive, but could not manage it. East Bengal finishes the Super Cup without a single win.

East Bengal’s group-stage results

Odisha FC 1-1 East Bengal

East Bengal 3-3 Hyderabad FC

East Bengal 2-2 Aizawl FC

Booking: Cleiton Silva sees a yellow card for his challenge on Sailo.

David, who scored that brilliant equaliser for Aizawl FC, is today’s the ‘Man of the Match’

Amawia goes for the dink from distance and almost catches Kamaljit out. The East Bengal was scrambling as the ball went out. At first glance, it did not look like the effort was on target.

Six minutes added at the end of the second-half!!

Aizawl subs: IN- Augustine, Hmangaihkima

Cleiton goes for goal from approximately 40 yards out but the wall does its job by blocking the shot.

East Bengal subs: IN- Rakip, Semboi OUT- Tuhin, Passi

O’Doherty goes down and East Bengal has a freekick with a dangerous area.

O’Doherty takes a shot at goal but the effort lacks power and the Aizawl keeper collects the ball comfortably.

As things stand, East Bengal will go out of the Super Cup. A draw will not be enough for Constantine’s men. If they manage to clinch a win, all eyes will be on the Hyderabad FC vs Odisha FC match.

Mahesh does well to dribble past Kimkima but his cross is disappointing. It is overhit and the ball goes out for a Aizawl FC throw-in.

There is a handball shout inside the Aizawl box. Jangra was convinced but the referee does not give anything.

Earlier Akito made a brilliant block as Jangra caught the ball well with a diving header. The effort was on target.

Aizawl sub: Veras comes in

Sailo takes a shot from the right, which is saved by Kamlajit. But East Bengal cannot deal with the loose ball yet again and David bundles it in. However, Aizawl FC’s joy is short-lived as David is adjudged offside.

The match halts as the players take a water break.

East Bengal sub: IN- O’Doherty OUT- Lima

Sailo does well to take the ball past Mobashir. But, the shot after that from distance is nowhere near the goal.

There is a lack of urgency in East Bengal’s football. Just a win is not enough for the Red and Gold Brigade. Time is running out for Constantine and his men.

Sarthak throws long into Aizawl FC’s box but Hriatpuia comes out and collect the ball with confidence.

B-Tea swings in an enticing cross inside the East Bengal box from a freekick, but no Aizawl player attacked it. The ball goes out for a goalkick. Meanwhile, East Bengal players asked for a foul but did not get it.

Booking: Sarthak sees a yellow card for his mistimed challenge on David.

East Bengal sub: IN- Jangra OUT- Suhair

Amawia dispatches a venomous shot from distance, which Kamlajit saves. The rebound falls to David who has an empty net in front of him. But, he misses the target with his shot. It would have been an embarassing miss but the assistant referee blows his whistle for offside. That is a huge let off for the Aizawl player.

Aizawl sub: IN- Eisuke OUT- Ramsanga

Ramsanga has suffered an injury and cannot continue. He is stretchered off the pitch.

David is played a good ball over the top. However, he is dispossessed and East Bengal has the ball. Kamaljit takes too much time to clear and almost loses the ball to a rushing East Bengal player. There was confusion between him and Chungnunga. However, EB does manage to clear the ball finally.

Booking: Mahesh of East Bengal is the latest player to see a yellow card.

Kamaljit comes way off his line to clear the ball, leaving his goal empty. David gets the ball and lifts the ball over Kamaljit with wonderful technique to slot the ball inside the net. That is poor communication and defending from East Bengal.

Mahesh tries to bring the ball down on the edge of the box but just cannot get his shot away.

East Bengal starts the second-half with a 2-1 lead against Aizawl FC.

East Bengal finishes the first-half with a 2-1 lead against Aizawl FC.

The Red and Golds have to score two more without reply to keep qualification hopes alive.

Booking: Meanwhile, Ramsanga had received a yellow card earlier for his challenge on Mahesh.

Three minutes added at the end of the first-half.

East Bengal has leaked a goal yet again. It is good football by Aizawl. Akito tries to chip Kamaljit, who had come off his line. But the keeper makes the save. However, the loose ball falls to David, who squares the ball to Hruaitea. Hruaitea keeps his calm to lash the ball inside the net.

East Bengal’s attacking has mostly happened from the left. The right side has been pretty inactive till now. East Bengal should try and get VP Suhair more involved.

East Bengal FC-5

Aizawl FC- 4

As the stats show, it hasn’t been just an East Bengal show even if the scoreline suggests otherwise.

Mahesh tries to press and win the ball but ends up fouling Buanga with a late challenge. The youngster has been one of East Bengal’s best players throughout the season.

Ramsanga takes a shot from distance but his effort is miles off target. His body shape was all wrong as he went for the shot.

Mahesh tries to thread a ball to Passi inside the Aizawl box, but the pass is intercepted.

Aizawl FC’s David gets inside the box and gets away from Tuhin. He goes for a low shot at Kamaljit’s near-post but the East Bengal keeper does well to get down quickly and make the save. The ball is eventually cleared by the East Bengal defence.

The action resumes at the Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri.

The conditions are sweltering at Manjeri. The match halts for a cooling break. A chance for the coaches to get a word in.

East Bengal is doing well in the middle of the park, snatching the ball to thwart Aizawl attacks. But, Constantine’s men needs to go for that early ball at times for Cleiton.

Aizawl FC is not sitting back even after going 2-0 down. Already eliminated, Aizawl has nothing but pride to play for. East Bengal needs to be wary of letting in goals. It had led against Odisha FC and Hyderbad Fc, only to concede and earning just a point from its first two matches.

Clinical football from East Bengal. Passi positions himself inside the box and does well to head a cross from the right flank, inside the net. It is not the best goalkeeping but Passi won’t care.

Mahesh looked to square the ball to Passi but the ball takes a deflection off the Aizawl keeper and ends up inside the net.

Freekick for East Bengal- Cleiton goes for goal from a fairly ambitious distance but he blazes his shot over the crossbar. The East Bengal defenders is disappointed with his effort.

Tuhin attempts to put in an early cross inside the box for Cleiton Silva, who had made a run. But, the cross lacks direction and there was no way that Cleiton could reach the ball. Tuhin raises his hand to apologise for that pass.

Despite the being the weaker team on paper, it has been a positive start from Aizawl FC. It is not sitting back and is constantly keeping the East Bengal defence busy.

Kamaljit does well to read the danger and comes off his line to collect the ball. Sailo was chasing the ball and it could have spelt trouble for East Bengal if he had got to the ball.

Kyriacou is played a good long ball on the right flank by Lima. The defender controls it well to bring the ball down. However, his attempted cross is wayward and the ball goes out for a goalkick.

Mahesh makes a good run. It was a good turn by him to start the attack and get inside the box. But, he is dispossessed by after a legit shoulder-to-shoulder tackle. He did go down inside the box but gets up without complaining.

Amawia tries to send in a ball from the right flank. Kamlajit takes no risk and punches the ball out for a corner.

East Bengal will need a fast start in this match. It needs a win to have a chance at qualification and also hope that the match between Hyderabad FC and Odisha FC ends in a draw.

The Group B Super Cup 2023 clash between East Bengal FC and Aizawl FC is underway at the Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri.

It is a must-win match for the Red and Gold Brigade.

East Bengal: Kamaljit(GK), Chungnunga, Sumeet, Cleiton(c), Suhair, Alex, Mobashir, Sartha, Mahesh, Tuhin, Kyriacou.

Aizawl FC: Hriatpuia(GK), B-Tea, Amawia, Mafela, Hruaitea, Kimkima(c), Akito, Ramsanga, David, Sailo, Buanga

Aizawl FC holds a slight advantage over East Bengal when it comes to the head-to-head record.

Played: 9

Aizawl FC wins: 3

Draws: 4

East Bengal wins: 2

East Bengal faces Aizawl FC in a Group B clash of the Super Cup 2023 at the Manjeri Payyanad Stadium on Monday.

It is a must-win match for East Bengal, which has drawn its first two group games against Odisha FC and Hyderabad FC, respectively.

How can East Bengal qualify?

Aizawl FC is already eliminated and will be playing for pride. However, for East Bengal, there is still a chance for qualification.

In order to qualify, East Bengal must win against Aizawl FC and hope that Hyderabad FC and Odisha FC draw their match.

LIVE STREAMING INFO

Where will the East Bengal vs Aizawl FC Super Cup 2023 match be played?

TheEast Bengal vs Aizawl FC Super Cup 2023 match will be played at the Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri

At what time will the East Bengal vs Aizawl FC Super Cup 2023 match kick-off?

The East Bengal vs Aizawl FC Super Cup 2023 match will kick-off at 5:00 PM IST on Monday, April 17.

Where will the East Bengal vs Aizawl FC Super Cup 2023 match be live telecasted?

The East Bengal vs Aizawl FC Super Cup 2023 match will be live telecasted on the Sony Ten network.

How do I watch the live streaming of the East Bengal vs Aizawl FC Super Cup 2023 match?

The East Bengal vs Aizawl FC Super Cup 2023 match will be streamed live on the Fancode App and Website.

Predicted lineups

East Bengal FC: Kamaljit(GK), Chungnunga, Cleiton(c), Suhair, Alex, Mobashir, Sarthak, Mahesh, Tuhin, Athul, Jervis

Aizawl FC: Vanlalhriatpuia(GK), Lalmalsawma, Lalmuanawma, Lalchhawnkima, Lalbiakzuala, Saito, Mohri, Lalrinfela, Lalhlansanga, Ramsanga, Veras.