East Bengal Stage Stunning 4-1 Comeback to Qualify for AFC Champions League Two Group Stage
East Bengal produced one of the most dramatic continental comebacks in recent Indian football history, overcoming Al-Arabi SC 4-1 after extra time at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday to qualify for the AFC Champions League Two group stage for the first time.
For 89 minutes, it appeared that East Bengal's hopes of reaching the continental group stage would end in heartbreak. Al-Arabi had taken the lead through Anayo Iwuala's 76th-minute penalty, leaving the Indian Super League champions staring at elimination.
Instead, East Bengal found another gear at precisely the moment they needed it.
Jay Gupta headed in a dramatic equaliser in the 90th minute to force extra time. Mohammed Bassim Rashid then produced a stunning half-volley in the 108th minute to put East Bengal ahead before David Lalhlansanga Hmar added a third in the 117th minute. Hmar then turned provider, setting up Rohit Danu for the fourth goal in the 120th minute.
From 1-0 down with minutes remaining to a 4-1 victory after 120 minutes, East Bengal completed a comeback that will live long in the club's history.
The match began with East Bengal showing plenty of attacking intent in front of a packed Salt Lake Stadium. Jay Gupta and Edmund Lalrindika combined effectively in the opening minutes, with captain Mo Rashid forcing an early save after a powerful effort from the edge of the box.
East Bengal continued to create openings, with Jesin TK particularly dangerous from the right. The forward found space on several occasions but the hosts were unable to convert their opportunities. Al-Arabi also carried a threat, particularly through Nigerian forward Anayo Iwuala. The attacker repeatedly caused problems with his pace and movement, forcing East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill into an important save in the first half.
The visitors had opportunities of their own, but the two sides went into half-time level at 0-0. East Bengal continued to look the more threatening side after the interval. A swift counter-attack created an excellent opportunity for Bipin Singh, but his effort lacked the accuracy required to beat the goalkeeper.
The missed chances would eventually prove costly.
Iwuala gives Al-Arabi the lead
The breakthrough came in the 76th minute. Al-Arabi worked the ball into the East Bengal penalty area, where Sandip Mandi was adjudged to have committed a foul. The referee immediately pointed to the spot. Iwuala stepped up and made no mistake, sending the penalty into the bottom-left corner despite Gill guessing the correct direction.
At 1-0 down with only around 15 minutes remaining, East Bengal were facing elimination. But the hosts refused to accept the result.
They pushed forward relentlessly and eventually got their reward in the 90th minute. A free-kick from the left was delivered into the box, and Jay Gupta rose above the defence to direct a powerful header into the net. The Salt Lake Stadium erupted.
East Bengal had forced extra time.
The first period of extra time was tense, with Al-Arabi continuing to threaten on the counter while East Bengal tried to maintain their attacking momentum. Prabhsukhan Gill produced an excellent piece of sweeper-keeper work in the 102nd minute, racing almost to the halfway line to clear a dangerous Al-Arabi counter-attack.
East Bengal survived the pressure and then delivered the decisive blow. In the 108th minute, a patient move down the right produced a chipped pass towards Mohammed Bassim Rashid. The midfielder met it on the half-volley and unleashed a spectacular strike that flew into the back of the net.
East Bengal were suddenly ahead. The turnaround was complete but they were not finished.
With Al-Arabi forced to chase the game, spaces began to open up. In the 117th minute, David Lalhlansanga Hmar capitalised. Hmar collected the ball on a counter-attack, carried it into the box and showed remarkable composure. After his initial effort was saved, he picked up the rebound, feinted past a defender and then calmly rounded the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into an empty net.
The goal effectively ended Al-Arabi's hopes. Three minutes later, Hmar was involved again. This time, he drew the goalkeeper out before playing a simple pass across to Rohit Danu, who finished into an empty net to complete the 4-1 victory. The final whistle confirmed a historic achievement.
East Bengal enters the ACL Two group stage
The victory means East Bengal have qualified for the AFC Champions League Two group stage for the first time. It adds another chapter to the club's continental history. East Bengal have previously competed in the AFC Cup, the predecessor to the ACL Two, and became the first Indian club to reach the competition's semifinals in 2013.
This time, however, the club has gone one step further into the rebranded continental competition. East Bengal will enter the group-stage draw in Pot 4, alongside Bahrain's Al-Khaldiya and Oman's Al-Nahda. The qualification also provides another reward for a club that ended a 22-year wait for the Indian Super League title last season. Under new head coach Antonio Lopez Habas, East Bengal have begun the 2026-27 campaign with an opportunity to build on that domestic success on the continental stage.
The night in Kolkata was ultimately about resilience. East Bengal missed chances, conceded a late penalty and appeared to be heading out. Instead, they scored four times after falling behind, with Jay Gupta's last-gasp equaliser opening the door for one of the most memorable comebacks in the club's recent history.
A 25,000-strong crowd at Salt Lake Stadium witnessed it all. East Bengal went into the night needing a win to reach the group stage.
They left with something considerably more valuable: a place in Asian club football's next chapter, earned through an extraordinary 4-1 comeback.
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