Top 5 performances by Indian clubs in the AFC Cup

#2 East Bengal (2013) – Semifinals

Chidi Edeh has been a part of many an Indian club’s AFC Cup run

After a streak of 3 clubs making at least the quarterfinals in 5 years, India’s performances in the AFC Cup diminished, as the format changed to include a larger pool of teams and thus a Round-of-16 fixture as well. It makes East Bengal’s 2013 run all the more creditable, as the Lal holud went where no Indian club had gone before until then.

East Bengal comfortably topped Group H of East Asian opposition, as Selangor, Sài Gòn Xuân Thành and Tampines Rovers were unable to beat the Red and Gold Brigade as they racked up 13 goals in 6 games, which included 4 wins and two draws, thus ensuring their place in the knockout stages. Yangon United suffered at the hands of East Bengal in the Round-of-16, going down 5-1 in the single leg tie.

The Kolkata giants then faced Indonesian side Semen Padang in the quarterfinals, where Japanese midfielder Ryuji Sueoka gave them a precious 1-0 lead going into the away leg. A howler from current Indian custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu gifted Semen Padang a way back, but James Moga scored late to ensure East Bengal went through 1-2 on aggregate.

Facing defending champions Kuwait SC in the semifinals, East Bengal were in no doubt of the size of the task ahead of them, especially with Ryuji Sueoka out injured. They came away with a respectable 4-2 loss in the first leg in Kuwait, only to collapse in front of their home support, as a 3-0 loss in the second leg meant that East Bengal went out 7-2 to the eventual champions.