Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr FC fought back from a goal down to defeat East Bengal of India 3-2 in their AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Stage tie at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium on Wednesday.
Goals from Myrat Annayev erased David Lalhlansanga’s opener before Selim Nurmyradov gave Altyn Asyr the lead going into the break. Mihail Titov increased the Turkmenistan side’s tally early in the second half with Saul Crespo netting a late consolation for East Bengal.
While Altyn Asyr will take their place in Friday’s AFC Champions League Two draw, East Bengal will feature in the AFC Challenge League™ 2024/25, with the draw scheduled for August 22.
East Bengal roared out of the blocks and had a chance to take the lead in the third minute when Mohamad Rakip burst inside the box before cutting the ball back across the face of the goal but it was parried away by Altyn Asyr’s backline.
The Turkmenistan side swung into the action a minute later when Annayev threatened with a shot from distance which just sailed over the East Bengal bar.
East Bengal continued to apply pressure and were rewarded with the opening goal in the seventh minute when Nandhakumar Sekar sent a delightful cross for Lalhlansanga, who was quick to scramble the rebound over the line after his initial effort was denied by the post.
Altyn Asyr came close five minutes later when Rahman Myratberdiyev forced a fine save from East Bengal keeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, but the Turkmenistan captain was in the thick of the action moments later in setting up the equaliser.
Myratberdiyev orchestrated the move in the 17th minute when he threaded a long ball through for the advancing Annayev, who beat the offside trap before finding the back of the net with a cool finish past a rooted Prabhsukhan.
East Bengal struggled to regain their rhythm and their woes were worsened as Altyn Asyr doubled their lead in the 27th minute after Nurmyradov curled his free-kick into the top right corner.
The onus was on East Bengal to find a way back into the tie with Dimitrios Diamantakos, sent on at the start of the second half, combining well with Sekar who, however, sent his effort straight into the arms of Altyn Asyr keeper Batyr Babayev.
It was a costly miss as the visitors tightened their grip on the game when they scored their third in the 52nd minute through Titov, who netted off a rebound following Prabhsukhan’s diving save to deny Annayev.
East Bengal reduced the deficit seven minutes later through Saul Crespo’s sublime finish but home side’s misery was compounded with 10 minutes to go when Cleiton Silva had the ball in the net only for his effort to be disallowed for his foul on Babayev.
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