Indian Super League (ISL) side East Bengal FC suffered a narrow defeat against FC Arkadag in the AFC Challenge League quarterfinal first leg at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Wednesday.

The Red and Gold Brigade created chances throughout the match, but Yazgylych Gurbanov’s first-half goal ended up being the decider, as the Kolkata giants are now trailing 0-1 in the two-leg semi-final fixture.

Oscar Bruzon named five foreigners in the starting eleven, leaving only Cletion Silva on the bench. The hosts started the proceeding in a slightly sloppy way, resulting in the visitors getting the crucial opener in the 10th minute.

A quick attacking transition from the Turkmenistan side saw Gurbanov find the back of the net with his precise strike from the edge of the box, leaving no chance for Prabhsukhan Singh Gill at his near post.

Despite an early setback, the Red and Gold Brigade displayed a spirited performance with multiple offensive third entries in both halves, but a resilient FC Arkadag defense prevented the hosts from scoring the equaliser. A resolute center-back duo of Saparov and Bashimov resisted the East Bengal FC side to keep only a shot on target throughout the entire game.

East Bengal FC got their chances in the first half through set-piece movements but couldn’t get the breakthrough delivery. The hosts got back-to-back corner kicks in the 40th minute but failed to find the back of the net.

Gurbanov had a golden opportunity to secure a two-goal lead at the stroke of halftime, but the East Bengal FC goalkeeper stood strong to deny his attempt with a clinical save.

Bruzon’s men kept trying to utilise the spaces in the second half with Saul Crespo and Naorem Mahesh Singh in the midfield and Raphael Messi Bouli and Dimitrios Diamantakos up front, but a lack of precision in the final third left them succumbing to a 0-1 loss at home in the AFC Challenge League first-leg quarterfinal.

Crespo got consecutive chances to net the equaliser in the 71st minute, but his initial attempt was blocked by the opponent’s defender while he couldn’t manage to keep it in frame for the second time.

PV Vishnu, who is enjoying an impactful domestic season with the Red and Gold Brigade, came on in place of Celis. The skilled winger got a chance to make an instant impact coming off the bench, but he skied the ball in the 75th minute.

Bruzon left no stone unturned as he brought in Silva and Nishu Kumar, but the FC Arkadag defenders restricted the spaces and did well in limiting the host’s scoring moves. East Bengal FC continued to strive for the equaliser, generating a couple of offensive moves from both flanks, but the final outcome remained elusive.

The final opportunity of the game again fell to Crespo courtesy of Vishnu’s cutback from the left flank, but FC Arkadag goalkeeper Charyyev Rasul was faster to react as he snatched away the opportunity with his quick footwork.

East Bengal FC will travel to Turkmenistan for the second leg of the AFC Challenge League quarterfinal, which will be played on March 12.

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