East Bengal Held to Goalless Draw by Al Seeb in AFC Champions League Two

East Bengal FC were held to a 0-0 draw by Oman’s Al Seeb Club in their third group-stage match of the AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 at the Al Seeb Stadium in Seeb, Oman, on Tuesday. 

Despite opportunities at both ends, neither side managed to find the breakthrough in a contest that gathered intensity towards the final stages. The result leaves East Bengal third in the group with two points at the halfway mark of the group stage. Al Seeb sit fourth with one point fewer, while Iraq’s Al Shorta lead the standings with seven points, followed by Jordanian club Al Hussein on five.

For East Bengal, the draw offers another point away from home but also highlights the need to convert promising attacking situations into goals as the competition progresses.

Playing in front of their home fans, Al Seeb began the match on the front foot and tested East Bengal goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa early in the contest. Abdulmageed Al Balushi produced the first notable attempt in the eighth minute, unleashing a powerful effort that forced Lachenpa into action. The hosts continued to apply pressure, with Abdulaziz Al Maqbali making progress down the left flank before setting up Ahmed Al Riyami near the edge of the penalty area.

Al Riyami attempted to curl a left-footed shot towards goal, but his effort narrowly missed the target. The early chances demonstrated Al Seeb’s intent to take control of the match, although East Bengal gradually settled into the contest.

The Indian side began creating opportunities of its own as the first half progressed. David Lalhlansanga tested Al Seeb goalkeeper Muatasim Al Wahaibi with an attempt from a similar area, forcing a save. Anwar Ali also found space to shoot, but his effort went over the crossbar under pressure from Al Riyami.

East Bengal’s response helped prevent the hosts from turning their early territorial advantage into a goal, setting up a more balanced contest as the teams approached half-time.

Edmund Lalrindika Misses Early Second-Half Chance

East Bengal created the first significant opportunity after the restart. In the 49th minute, Edmund Lalrindika used his pace to get away from Hassan Al Ajmi and move into a promising position inside the penalty area.

With an opening available, Lalrindika attempted to finish the move but sent his shot over the crossbar. It was a valuable opportunity for the visitors to take the lead, and the miss meant the match remained goalless despite East Bengal’s promising start to the second half. Al Seeb responded through Augustine Oladapo, who lifted the ball forward for Axel Meye. The move raised hopes among the home supporters, but Meye dragged his effort across the face of the East Bengal goal without finding the target.

Both teams continued to search for an opening, but the final ball and finishing touch proved elusive. The contest increasingly became a battle to make the most of limited opportunities, with neither defence allowing a clear breakthrough.

The closing minutes brought the clearest indications that either side could still snatch victory. East Bengal threatened through Bipin Singh, who got his effort on target after receiving a long ball from Mohammed Rashid. Al Wahaibi responded with a crucial save to preserve Al Seeb’s clean sheet and deny the visitors a late winner.

The hosts then pushed forward in search of a decisive goal of their own. Zahir Al-Aghbari produced a swerving shot that required an important intervention from Lachenpa. The two goalkeepers played decisive roles in ensuring the contest ended without a goal. While both teams had opportunities to secure all three points, their finishing and the opposition goalkeepers’ interventions ultimately shaped the result.

East Bengal Face Al Seeb Again in Kolkata

The draw leaves East Bengal with two points after three group-stage matches, placing the club third in the standings. With Al Shorta and Al Hussein currently occupying the top two positions with seven and five points, respectively, East Bengal will need stronger results in the remaining fixtures to improve its position.

The Indian side will have an immediate opportunity to respond when it hosts Al Seeb in the return fixture on November 3 in Kolkata.

Playing at home could provide East Bengal with a valuable opportunity to turn its attacking promise into a winning performance. The team created chances in Oman, particularly through Lalhlansanga, Anwar Ali and Lalrindika, but could not find the finishing touch required to secure victory.

The return encounter will therefore carry added significance for East Bengal’s campaign. After a disciplined defensive effort and a point earned away from home, the focus will shift to making home advantage count and collecting the win that could strengthen its position in the group.