AFC Cup: Indian clubs’ round of 16 jinx

East Bengal takes on Myanmar’s Yangon United in the one-legged AFC Cup round of 16 clash on Wednesday. The Kolkata club will be aiming to become the first Indian club to win a round of 16 tie since this round was introduced back in 2008.

Indian clubs have failed at this stage in each of the three previous occasions, but at least East Bengal have home advantage because they became the first Indian team to win their group in the current format of the AFC Cup.

In each of the three previous instances, Indian clubs had to play away from home and against West Asian opposition.

Despite the defeats, the performances of Dempo and Churchill Brothers made the country proud. Sportskeeda looks back…

2009: Dempo give eventual champions a fight

Star duo Ranti Martins and Beto couldn’t take Dempo to the quarters in 2009(Photo Credit: AIFF Media)

2008 semi-finalists Dempo finished second in a tough group comprising Syria’s Al Majd and former champions Al Muharraq (Bahrain) and Al Faisaly (Jordan). The Goan club finished above the two former winners but was second behind Majd and thus lost the chance to have home advantage in the newly introduced one-legged round of 16 tie. Their opponents in the pre-quarterfinals were Kuwait champions, Al Kuwait, who prior to this season used to compete in the Asian Champions League. The Kuwait club had finished top of the group which had Mohun Bagan, who conceded seven times against them over two matches. Dempo were very much the underdogs and the absence of India international Mahesh Gawli due to suspension made their task even more difficult.

The Goan club’s inexperienced back four were set for a tough time and conceded a penalty early on when Dominic Noronha fouled Syrian international Jehad Al Hussain, who himself converted the spot-kick. Although the hosts were dominating possession, Dempo were very much in the game at 1-0 and could, and should, have equalised through their Nigerian striker Ranti Martins but his goal-bound effort was cleared off the line early in the second half. Minutes later, Hussain made Dempo pay for that missed chance by doubling the Kuwaiti club’s lead from a corner. However, Armando Colaco’s side refused to give up as current Churchill Brothers player Beto pulled one back for Dempo and ensured a nervy finish for favourites Al Kuwait. But the equaliser never came and the home side went 3-1 up with Hussain completing his hat-trick from another penalty and Ranti being shown his second yellow for protesting the decision to award a second spot-kick. It was a valiant effort from Dempo, but it wasn’t enough and Al Kuwait later went on to win the competition.

2010: Al Enezi sinks Churchill Brothers

The goal from Odafa (right) proved to be a consolation

This was Churchill Brothers’ first-ever appearance in the AFC Cup following their maiden I-League triumph in 2008-09. Strangely, they were in the only three-team group of the competition following the disqualification of Iraq’s representatives. With two out of three qualifying to the round of 16, Churchill Brothers had a great opportunity to make the knockout stage. They did the double over Yemen’s Al Hilal and got a point at home against holders Al Kuwait to qualify with a game to spare. In the absence of skipper and talisman Odafa Okolie, Churchill were embarrassed 7-1 by Al Kuwait in their final group game and thus finished second. Their opponents in the round of 16 were Kuwaiti league winners Al Qadsia.

Unlike Dempo, the AFC Cup was a complete new experience for the Churchill Brothers squad, with the team heavily dependent on the most prolific goal scorer of the I-League, Odafa. Qadsia, on the other hand, was a team with plenty of experience in the continent, having reached the quarters and semis of the Champions League. They were dominant in the first period but Churchill custodian Arindam Bhattacharya was in equally good form, producing three top class saves. However, the young Indian keeper had no answer to the classy finishing of Hamad Al Enezi. The Kuwait international bagged a first half brace and looked to have ended the game as a contest but Odafa’s disallowed goal on the strike of halftime gave Churchill hope for the second period and they should have pulled one back through Ogba Kalu Nnanna, who missed two glorious opportunities. Odafa eventually made it 2-1 with a powerful finish inside the box but Churchill couldn’t complete the comeback as Qadsia’s experience saw them hold on to the slender advantage.

2011: Iraqi champions survive Dempo scare

Ranti Martins didn’t convert his chances

Dempo were nowhere near their best in the group stage as they only managed two home wins and conceded 13 goals against Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi, who topped the group. Despite managing only seven points and failing to score away from home, Armando Colaco’s side went past the group stage for the third time in as many appearances. Only Lebanon’s Al Ahed recorded fewer points (6) and qualified for the knockout stage. But it was only expected to get tougher for India’s record champions as they had to make the trip to Iraq to face Duhok. The Iraqi champions were clear favourites for the round of 16 tie despite Dempo’s experience in the AFC Cup.

Having picked up just one point in three away games in the group stage, Dempo, who were also well off the pace in the I-League title race, didn’t have much form and confidence on their side and also had very little knowledge about their opponents. Thus, they started the game slowly and were behind early when Khaled Mushir Ismael’s freekick caught out goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani. It was a nightmare start for Dempo but they slowly regrouped and started creating chances with Joaquim Abranches nearly equalising towards the end of the first half. Armando’s decision to push Ogba Kalu in defence worked wonders as the Nigerian’s physical presence gave Dempo some assurance at the back. Star striker Ranti Martins also came into the game more in the second period but, uncharacteristically, wasn’t clinical with his finishing. Duhok had some counter attacks but Kattimani kept Dempo into the contest with some fine saves. Dempo huffed and puffed but couldn’t find the equaliser as Duhok won 1-0 with the Goan club bowing out of the competition, having failed to score in four straight away matches.