Al Seeb Club left it late to register a 2-0 win over East Bengal FC in their AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 Group D tie on Tuesday.
After a tepid opening half, Axel Meye broke the deadlock in stunning fashion in the 85th minute with Zahir Al Aghbari sealing the victory in the first minute of stoppage time.
The home side dominated the opening proceedings with Bipin Singh firing wide from the edge of the box in the fourth minute before Dani Ramírez sent a low effort just wide after a neat passing move from Mohammed Rashid.
Despite seeing defender Anwar Ali forced off by injury in the 17th minute, the Indian Super League side continued to press with Edmund Lalrindika threatening, while Ramírez headed Bipin’s cross narrowly wide.
Al Seeb finally got their act together just after the half-hour mark when Abdul Aziz Al Maqbali’s through ball released Axel Meye into the box, but the Gabonese’s low drive was comfortably saved by East Bengal goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa.
Ramírez then missed another opportunity in the 39th minute, controlling Lalrindika’s cross before dragging his effort wide of the far post as the score remained goalless going into the break.
Al Seeb came back rejuvenated in the second half with Meye wasting another effort in the 49th minute, sending his header just over the bar following Mohammed Al Musalami’s layoff from a corner.
East Bengal responded in the 55th minute through Edmund Lalrindika, whose header from Sandip Mandi’s cross narrowly missed the target, while Augustine Oladapo could not find the target from distance after seeing his effort just miss the right post.
The Omani side looked more likely to score with Omer Al Malki forcing Lachenpa into a reflex save from inside the six-yard-box in the 76th minute, before sending his follow-up effort just wide of the left post.
Al Seeb’s persistence finally came to fruition in the 85th minute after Hassan Al Ajmi recycled the ball back to Meye, who turned past his marker before unleashing a powerful drive past a rooted Lachenpa.
Al Aghbari closed Al Seeb’s account in first half stoppage time after collecting Meye’s long cross from the left, completing the counter-attack with a fine finish into the bottom right corner.
AFC Media
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