East Bengal head coach Antonio Lopez Habas shares disappointment following the 2-3 defeat to Al-Shorta SC in ACL Two 2026-27 match
The Red & Gold side will face Al-Seeb next
East Bengal FC lost 2–3 against Iraqi club Al Shorta SC at home in the AFC Champions League Two 2026–27 campaign, despite scoring two goals, thanks to David Lalhlansanga.
The Red-and-Gold Brigade took the lead in the eighth minute, but Shorta’s comeback in the second half caused them to lose at Salt Lake Stadium. East Bengal’s previous game ended in a 2-2 draw with Jordan’s Al Hussein SC, and the outcome kept them winless in this event.
There are still four matches left in the group stages, and the defeat to Al Shorta was East Bengal’s first defeat in the group fixtures. The top two clubs from East Bengal’s group will advance to the round of 16 after the conclusion of the sixth round.
East Bengal’s next game is against Churchill Brothers in Goa on October 18. As the reigning champion, the Kolkata-based team will play its first game in the Indian Super League (ISL).
The next AFC Champions League Two 2026–27 Group D stage away match between East Bengal FC and Al-Seeb Club is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The game will be played in Oman.
After the disappointing 2-3 defeat to Al-Shorta, East Bengal head coach Antonio Lopez Habas and assistant coach Carlos Agustín Fonseca Teijeiro have addressed the media.
Here is the post-match conference of East Bengal FC after the match against Al-Shorta SC in ACL Two clash in Kolkata.
Habas reacts on team’s overall performance and the defeat
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East Bengal FC head coach Antonio Lopez Habas clearly stated that missed opportunities cost his side the match. East Bengal held a 2-1 lead at half-time but eventually suffered a 2-3 defeat after conceding two quick goals at the start of the second half.
Habas stated: “I don’t agree with the scoreline, though. East Bengal don’t deserve to lose, as we had ten proper chances of scoring but couldn’t deliver. We were ahead in the first half but conceded two quick goals in the second half within a few minutes and ended up losing the game, where we were dominating for most of the time in the first half.”
“I told my players to pay attention after conceding those two quick goals and stay focused, but somehow we couldn’t capitalise on the chances that we had created.”
“We had 5-6 one-on-one chances with the goalkeeper, but somehow it didn’t work in our favour. They were a strong opponent with quality players, got the chances to score, and they delivered.”
“But as such, nothing to differentiate between the team; the missed chances in the first half cost us the match, he also added.”
Habas on David’s performance and qualification scenario
The Spanish gaffer said that he was impressed with David’s performance and also mentioned that his other foreign strikers need to develop quickly and adapt to the conditions as well.
Habas said: “Very happy with his performance, he is a fantastic player, scored two goals, but not satisfied with the overall performance of my team.”
“I don’t think we were defeated on the physical or tactical aspect. We were brilliant in the first 45 minutes of the game and in the last 30 minutes of the game as well, but conceded two goals due to a lapse in our concentration, as in the Al-Hussein match.”
“I think this is not the end of the road for us in this competition; we need to rectify our mistakes need to be more focused during counterattacks and set pieces. I am happy with my new foreign strikers but they need to develop more and adapt quickly to the situations and score the vital goals for us when needed, he also added.”
Habas’ message for the fans
Habas clearly stated during the post-match press conference that he wanted the supporters to stand by the team during difficult times, just as they do when the team is winning.
The Spaniard stated, “We need our supporters to support the team in tough times too. I would request all East Bengal fans to support the team during disappointing moments, just as they do during winning moments.”
“You need to always back your team because the supporters are the main pillars of a club like East Bengal FC. So, please keep supporting us as you always do.”
“Our focus is now on the ISL. We will face Churchill Brothers FC in our first match, which will be an away fixture for us. We would like to win the match with the right attacking approach and start our campaign with a strong statement. We would like to continue playing this way and keep attacking,” he concluded.
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