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Semen Padang coach Jafri Sastra admitted that East Bengal’s Japanese playmaker Ryuji Sueoka was the big difference between the sides in the AFC Cup quarter-final first leg in Kolkata on Tuesday. Sueoka came off the pitch and netted the winner in the 70th minute to give East Bengal a slender first leg advantage.
“It was a close game and both teams had chances but the big difference was made by the number 11 (Sueoka) of East Bengal. He came on and changed the game,” Sastra said.
The Indonesian champions were the better side in the first half and even hit the woodwork just minutes before Sueoka’s goal so Sastra felt that their opponents were slightly lucky to win 1-0.
“I think yes East Bengal were a bit lucky but congratulations to them. Now we have the second leg to look forward to,” he stated.
Sastra is hoping that the home support in the second leg will help his side overturn the one-goal deficit but believes scoring two against East Bengal won’t be easy.
“Our home fans will give us an advantage for the second leg but it will be difficult scoring two against East Bengal and we can’t let in any away goal also. It will be a tough and interesting second match,” he said.
