Kingfisher East Bengal will script a new phase in Indian football if they manage to overcome the hurdle of Kuwait SC in the second leg of the AFC Cup semi-final at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. East Bengal players have their work cut out as they face one of the most consistent teams and last year’s champions in the semis.
In the first of the two legs East Bengal came from a 4-goal deficit to score two vital goals at Kuwait, thanks to some great tactical moves from the coach Marcos Falopa. East Bengal now faces an uphill task to wipe out the 2-goal advantage of the visitors who are placed among top-ranked teams in Asia. A 2-0 or 3-1 win over the West Asian outfits will be enough for the hosts to create new history.
East Bengal will surely enjoy the home advantage as the Kuwait SC players are not habituated to play on artificial turfs. The warm humid weather will also play a huge part in this all important second leg tie. A lot of things depend upon how much the visitors can adapt to such unfamiliar conditions. Also the support of more than 50000 fans in the stands may well turn out to be a decisive factor in the match.
If they can reach the final of this tournament they will become the first team from India to achieve such a feat. It will be a huge boost for the Indian football and a giant leap forward in reviving the lost glory.
Tags: East Bengal East Bengal vs Kuwait FC in the AFC semis Kuwait FC
