AFC Cup: Kind draw keeps Dempo’s 2008 feat within East Bengal’s reach

Can East Bengal match Dempo’s 2008 feat?

In the first five editions of the AFC Cup, Indian clubs reached the quarter-finals three times with Dempo also reaching the semi-finals in 2008. The Goan club achieved that under Armando Colaco to become the first and, till date, the only team from India to progress to the last four.

But for four straight editions after that, no Indian club could even reach the quarter-finals. Much of it was down to the change in format as since 2009 at least 31 teams have been taking part, which introduced a round of 16 stage and for three consecutive editions from 2009 to 2011, Indian clubs faltered at the pre-quarterfinal round as they were up against West Asian opposition.

With the round of 16 being a one-legged tie, Indian clubs had to travel to West Asia and on each occasion, they ended up second best. Last year, both of India’s representatives were eliminated from the group stage and the main reason for that was both East Bengal and Salgaocar were drawn with West Asian clubs.

There is a significant gulf in class between West Asian teams and I-League clubs, but Indian sides find it much easier to compete with teams from South-East Asia. Realizing this genuine concern, which was raised by East Bengal, the AFC kept India’s East Bengal and Churchill Brothers away from West Asia in the 2013 group stage.

In the end, only East Bengal progressed to the knockouts and that too in style as they topped their group and were unbeaten. Churchill Brothers had a steady start to their campaign but just didn’t have the squad to compete both in India and Asia, hence they prioritized the I-League and eventually bowed out from the AFC Cup group stage.

Even in the round of 16, as per rules, East Bengal were able to avoid teams from West Asia. They faced Myanmar champions Yangon United and thumped them 5-1. But for the quarter-finals East Bengal were vulnerable to drawing a West Asian team as clubs from the two different zones of the continent were finally eligible to meet.

Back in April, Sportskeeda had explained how Indian clubs fare better against South-East Asian teams compared to clubs from West Asia. Besides Dempo, every other Indian club have fared poorly against West Asian teams in the AFC Cup with East Bengal managing just two wins in 22 matches.

So even the most optimistic East Bengal fan must have prayed for a tie against one of the remaining three South-East Asian clubs – Kitchee (Hong Kong), Semen Padang (Indonesia) and New Radiant (Maldives).

East Bengal will fancy their chances against Semen Padang

In terms of strength of domestic leagues and quality of squads on paper, New Radiant possibly would have been the dream draw for East Bengal. But the red-and-gold brigade would certainly welcome drawing Semen Padang also rather than facing any of the remaining West Asian clubs – Syria’s Al Shorta, Jordan’s Al Faisaly and Kuwaiti duo Al Kuwait and Al Qadsia.

The Indonesian champions certainly won’t be any pushovers and Indian clubs have failed to beat Indonesian opposition in four AFC Cup meetings. Semen Padang were in the same group as Churchill Brothers and the sides played out a 2-2 draw in Pune with the Indonesian club being without any of their foreigners. The reverse fixture in Indonesia was won by the hosts 3-1 but on that occasion Churchill Brothers fielded a second string side and outplayed Padang with ten men for long periods in the second half.

In truth, Semen Padang’s real qualities weren’t visible in the twin clashes against Churchill Brothers and they also needed an injury time winner to go past Vietnam’s SHB Da Nang in the round of 16. So East Bengal have their work cut out to find out more about Padang and their strengths and weaknesses.

But the red-and-gold brigade would still fancy their chances. In the group stage, the Kolkata giants outclassed Singapore champions Tampines Rovers home and away and outplayed Malaysisa’ Selangor and Sai Gon Xuan Thanh of Vietnam in Kolkata.

The squad under Trevor Morgan clearly learnt how to play against South-East Asian teams and the club management have been successful in retaining majority of that team. The departure of Morgan will be a massive blow and it remains to be seen how Brazilian Marcos Falopa adjusts to Indian football but it could have been worse for East Bengal had they drawn a West Asian side.

Semene Padang’s top scorer Edward Junior Wilson (no.22) could join Mohun Bagan

The subplot of this clash is the possibility of Padang’s top scorer Edward Junior Wilson, who has scored nine in six AFC Cup matches so far, joining Mohun Bagan. East Bengal won’t mind that but even in Wilson’s presence they are well capable of beating the current Indonesian league leaders over two legs.

The preparation for both clubs in the lead up to the AFC Cup quarters will be contrasting – and this is where the tie could be won or lost – as Semen Padang will be entering the business end of their domestic league campaign while it could be East Bengal’s first competitive match of the new season as the start of the I-League will be delayed due to the SAFF Cup in Nepal.

Either Padang will feel the burden of a long domestic season or East Bengal players could lack sharpness early into the new campaign.

But one thing’s for sure, East Bengal do stand a better chance of beating Semen Padang than any of the remaining West-Asian quarter-finalists. So their players, new head coach, club management and fans can still have realistic ambitions of matching Dempo’s 2008 feat.