Thimpu, Oct 29 (Representative) East Bengal FC will look to pick up their first win of the season when they take on Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings in their second group match of the AFC Challenge League hereon Tuesday. The Red and Gold Brigade snapped their losing streak with a 2-2 draw against Paro FC in their first group match and find themselves in second spot behind leaders Nejmeh SC. With just two games remaining in the group and only the group winner having a guaranteed berth in the quarter-finals, it’s a must-win game for East Bengal FC. The Bangladesh side faced defeat in their opening match against Nejmeh and will also be looking to bounce back and get back in contention for a place in the last eight. The best-placed runner-up from the West Region groups will also get a place in the quarter-finals and East Bengal FC are currently the second-best runner-up one and will need to get a better result in their next match. It will be a big occasion for East Bengal FC head coach Oscar Bruzon who will face his former club with whom he won four Bangladesh Premier League titles. The Kings beat Mohun Bagan Super Giant in last year’s AFC Cup with Bruzon in-charge and thus the Red and Gold brigade will be under no illusion about the challenge on their hands. The big positive for East Bengal FC will be the form of forward Dimitri DIamantakos who has scored in the last two matches. Madih Talal, their big summer signing, also got on the scoresheet in the last match against Paro FC.
The Kings are yet to begin their league season and that will be an advantage for East Bengal FC who have already played six matches in the ISL, albeit losing all of those matches. However, head coach Bruzon believes his team will be up for the game and will be motivated to qualify from the group despite recent bad results. “If we are not motivated to try to qualify for such a competition, there’s a problem. Yes, all the boys understand the situation and day by day we are talking about this and trying to boost the morale of the players,” Bruzon said during his pre-match press conference on Monday. “We have to win at any cost. The players know that. Yes, the early match will give an idea to both teams,” Bruzon added. Defender Hector Yuste who faced the Kings last season with the Mariners shared his thoughts on the Bangladeshi outfit. “Last season they were very strong and had a very good coach. This will be a difficult match. But we’ll prepare everything to win this time,” Yuste said. East Bengal FC and Bashundhara Kings will meet for the first time but the Kings have a strong record against Indian teams. In 21 matches against Indian teams (Mohammedan SC, Odisha FC and Mohun Bagan SG), the Kings have won 11 and lost just six.However, with East Bengal FC slowly settling in to life under Bruzon, expect the Red and Gold to bring their quality to the fore and start winning football matches.