Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kolkata: Bengaluru’s poor run of results ahead of their crucial AFC Champions League 2015 Preliminary Round 1 match with Johor Darul Ta’azim (JDT) continued on Wednesday when the reigning Indian champions went down 1-0 to 2014 AFC Cup qualifiers East Bengal.
Midfielder Abhinas Ruidas scored the winner 53 minutes into the match at the Salt Lake Stadium with his first goal for East Bengal after making his professional debut in their 2015 I-League opener against Sporting Goa on January 18 to consign Bengaluru to their second defeat in the first three matches of their title defence following a 3-1 reverse to Pune and a goalless draw with Dempo in their season curtain raiser.
Bengaluru, who were only formed in 2013, will be looking to continue their rapid rise by taking a step closer to a first appearance in Asia’s premier club competition with victory over JDT in the first stage of the playoffs.
The winners of the intriguing encounter between the league champions of India and Malaysia will advance to Preliminary Round 2 where they will face Bangkok Glass in Thailand six days later. China's Beijing Guoan await the victorious side in the Playoff on February 17, with a coveted place in the 2015 AFC Champions League Group Stage up for grabs.
Defeat at any stage in the ACL qualifiers will see Bengaluru or JDT drop into the AFC Cup which could see the Malaysian side face East Bengal in Group F of Asia’s popular second-tier club tournament.