Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kolkata: Defending champions Kuwait Sports Club sealed a fourth AFC Cup final appearance in five years as two goals in the space three minutes at the end of the first half set-up a 3-0 win over India’s East Bengal in Tuesday’s semi-final second leg to complete a 7-2 aggregate victory.
East Bengal made a fast start as the home side sought to overturn the 4-2 deficit from the first leg earlier this month until Rogerinho (Rogerio de Assis Coutinho) and Hadi Khamees struck for two-time champions Kuwait SC at the end of the first half.
Khamees’ red card for needlessly lashing out at defender Uga Okpara before half-time was the only black mark for Kuwait SC, who sealed the win in the closing stages as Abhishek Das helped Fahad Awad’s shot into the back of the net following the second half dismissal of East Bengal’s Arnab Mandal.
Needing two goals to get themselves back on level terms, East Bengal made an encouraging start to the contest with numerous promising attacks inside the first five minutes having fought back from four goals down in the first leg to keep themselves in contention.
But after being unable to test visiting goalkeeper Musab Al Kandari, Kuwait SC created the first real chance after 11 minutes as East Bengal goalkeeper Abhjit Mondal pushed away Waleed Jumah’s free-kick.
The set-piece had been awarded moments earlier after Mondal had been fortunate to escape with just a yellow card after handling the ball outside the penalty area as Rogerinho chased a long ball over the top, with only the timely presence of a covering defender saving the custodian.
Following the frantic start, the pace of the game slowed as the half progressed although Kuwait SC goalkeeper Al Kandari had to be on his toes to bravely block James Moga’s close range effort on the edge of the six yard area after 24 minutes following a powerful run from the South Sudan striker.
But three minutes before the break Kuwait SC dealt East Bengal’s chances a huge blow as Rogerinho charged through the heart of the defence before coolly slotting past the advancing Mondal from inside the area despite pressure from defender Mandal.
And two minutes later Kuwait SC left East Bengal needing four goals in the second half as Khamees beat Mondal to a ball outside the area and Mandal was only able to help the ball into the back of the net with a desperate lunge as the defender attempted to recover.
Khamees’ night though turned sour just over a minute later as the striker was shown a straight red card in stoppage time after kicking out at East Bengal defender Okpara.
With a man advantage for the second 45 minutes, East Bengal again started the half strongly as Cavin Lobo drew a full length diving save from Al Kandari just before the hour, with the Kuwait SC goalkeeper then needing another acrobatic save to push Baljit Sahni’s header over the crossbar soon after.
But having failed to find a way back into the contest, East Bengal’s hopes of a fightbck were finally extinguished six minutes after the hour mark as Mandal was shown a straight red card after pulling back Rogerinho with the Brazilian set for a clear run on goal.
Ralte Lalrindika did hit the foot of the Kuwait SC post with a free-kick with 19 minutes remaining before Rogerinho repeated the feat at the other end after breaking clear of the East Bengal defence.
But 2009 and 2012 champions Kuwait SC sealed the win with four minutes remaining as Das could only help Awad’s effort into the back of the net.