AFC Cup: East Bengal Went Down 4-1 to Persipura Jayapura

After a thrilling 4-4 draw against Chonburi FC at home on matchday one of the AFC Cup, East Bengal on Wednesday suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Indonesian outfit Persipura Jayapura. The Group H encounter, played at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta witnessed the home team pump in two goals within the first twenty minutes.

The Indonesian Super League Runners up took the lead in 16^th minute, after East Bengal’s Sandeep Nandy, let slip Boaz Salossa’s cross and Titus Bonai making no mistake in finding the back of the net.

In a rain delayed match, the home team rather adjusted well to the sloppy ground condition as Boaz Salossa scored another goal three minutes later.

Fielding a full strength line up, the Kolkata Giants pulled back one through their goal machine Tolgay in the 23th minute, which once again brought back the match to life.

Playing their first ever AFC Cup and earning a 1-1 away draw against the star studded South China in Hongkong on matchday one, the Indonesian outfit dominated the first half and went to the break with a 2-1 lead.

Struggling to keep pace with Persipura even in the second half, the Red and Gold let in another in the 62^nd minute after Stevie Bonsapia’s effort took a double deflection before beating the East Bengal custodian Sandeep Nandy.

Trying for a respectable score sheet, Coach Morgan brought on Rahim Nabi, Balji Sahni and Sanju Pradhan, just to witness substitute Lukas Mandowen putting the final nails in the East Bengal’s coffin in the injury time.

East Bengal despite operating Okpara so far has conceded eight goals in two matches and just has one point. They next play South China on April 13 in Hongkong.

Meanwhile Dempo, another club from India, participating in the AFC cup went down 0-2 to the Lebanese outfit Al Ansar on Tuesday after a 2-1 win against Al-Tihal of Yemen on matchday one. The Goan outfit has three points from two matches and they next host Uzbekistan’s Nasaf on April 12.