Indian Super League (ISL) side East Bengal FC face their biggest test of the season as they travel to Turkmenistan for the second leg of the AFC Challenge League quarter-finals against FC Arkadag on Wednesday.

A solitary 11th-minute strike from Ýazgylyç Gurbanow in the first leg is all that separates the two teams heading into the decisive clash at the Arkadag Stadium.

The Red and Gold Brigade face an uphill battle as they aim to overturn a 0-1 deficit against the reigning champions of Turkmenistan, with the additional challenge of adjusting to new surroundings and away conditions.

East Bengal FC struggled to find their rhythm in the first leg in Kolkata. FC Arkadag struck early on the counterattack and then sat deep, restricting East Bengal FC to just one shot on target throughout the match.

As they prepare for the return leg, East Bengal FC know they have little margin for error. Head coach Oscar Bruzon will be aware that his team must be more adventurous in attack and, crucially, find an early breakthrough.

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While early goals have been hard to come by for them in the ISL this season, they showed urgency in their three group-stage matches in Bhutan, scoring within the first ten minutes on each occasion. A similar approach on Wednesday could help unsettle FC Arkadag and open up the game.

“In the first leg, we didn't have much information about Arkadag because their season had finished last November. We only had the reference of the AFC Challenge League group stage. There were some changes in the squad. Arkadag is about to begin a new season. There are some new players, but the good thing is that right now, we have all the information after the home game in India a week ago,” Bruzon stated at the pre-match press conference.

“I think tomorrow the game is going to be more focused on physicality, second balls, set pieces, transitions, and vertical actions,” he added.

Despite the tough challenge of needing a two-goal victory to avoid extra time, East Bengal FC have players capable of troubling the hosts.

Most of the senior squad is well-rested, having travelled early to acclimatize to the conditions, while a mix of junior and a few senior players took part in their final league game in Shillong.

Jeakson Singh, who could once again partner Hector Yuste in central defence in Anwar Ali's absence, accompanied Bruzon at the press conference.

“It’s a crucial away match. We are not just representing East Bengal but also representing India. So I think all of them are already motivated for the game,” said Singh.

Having once again fallen short of the ISL playoffs, this fixture carries even greater significance for the Kolkata giants. And if history has shown anything, it’s that East Bengal FC know how to rise to the occasion on the continental stage. A comeback in Turkmenistan may just be on the cards.

Match Details

Fixture: FC Arkadag vs East Bengal FC

Date: March 12, 2024

Time: 4:00 PM (IST)

Venue: Arkadag Stadium, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Live Streaming: FanCode

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East Bengal FC2024-2025